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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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February 26, 2009  

Peter Aseltine
609-292-4791

Office of The Attorney General
- Anne Milgram, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Deborah L. Gramiccioni, Director

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Three North Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Clerks Arrested on Charges They Sold Driver’s Licenses to Unauthorized Persons

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TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that three Motor Vehicle Commission clerks at the Jersey City and North Bergen MVC agencies have been charged with selling driver’s licenses to unauthorized persons.

According to Gramiccioni, the three MVC clerks were arrested early yesterday afternoon by Division of Criminal Justice detectives as a result of an investigation by the DCJ Major Crimes Bureau - MVC Unit. She identified the defendants as:

$Sonia Noel, 45, of Union City, a clerk at the Jersey City Motor Vehicle Agency. Charged with two counts of official misconduct (2nd degree), two counts of accepting or receiving a benefit by a public servant for official behavior (2nd degree), and two counts of tampering with public records (3rd degree). In custody in Hudson County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

$Melody Noel, 24, of Union City, Sonia’s daughter, a clerk at the Jersey City Motor Vehicle Agency. Charged with one count of official misconduct (2nd degree) and one count of tampering with public records (3rd degree). In custody in Hudson County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

$Christian Toledo, 30, of North Bergen, a clerk at the North Bergen Motor Vehicle Agency. Charged with one count of official misconduct (2nd degree), one count of accepting or receiving a benefit by a public servant for official behavior (2nd degree), and one count of tampering with public records (3rd degree). In custody in Hudson County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

“The sale of official documents to unauthorized persons is a serious crime with the potential to compromise public safety and security,” said Attorney General Milgram. “False identifications can readily be used to commit other crimes.”

The three clerks allegedly issued New Jersey digital driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants and an undercover detective posing as an undocumented immigrant. The purchasers paid several thousand dollars per license and were not required to provide the MVC with the required identification documents to demonstrate their legal authority to obtain a license. Other individuals acted as brokers, arranging for the purchases and sharing the money. The investigation is continuing.

“Investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice were able to infiltrate the alleged corrupt activities of these MVC employees, leading to yesterday’s arrests,” said Director Gramiccioni. “Our investigation into this document fraud scheme is continuing.”

The investigation was conducted and coordinated by Detective Shawn Gorlin, Detective Fred Moore, Detective Nick Olenick, Investigator Ruben Contreras, and Supervising Deputy Attorney General Frank Brady Jr. of the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau - MVC Unit. Attorney General Milgram thanked the Motor Vehicle Commission for providing assistance to the detectives who investigated the case.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine, while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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