TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that a Passaic County man was indicted today
for allegedly selling his birth certificate
and other identifying information to an individual
who attempted to use it to take a driver’s
test.
According
to Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni, Orlando
Ortiz, 35, of Paterson, was charged with second-degree
conspiracy, second-degree use of personal
identifying information and third-degree tampering
with public records or information.
The
indictment alleges that between Jan. 21 and
25, 2008, Ortiz conspired to sell his birth
certificate and social security card to another
individual so that the individual would be
able to take his driver’s license test
using Ortiz’s information. It is further
alleged that Ortiz went to the Wayne Regional
Service Center to obtain an examination permit
in his own name, which he then sold to the
individual. An investigation determined that
Ortiz allegedly agreed to sell all three documents
– his birth certificate, social security
card and examination permit for a total of
$400.
The
alleged fraud was uncovered when the individual,
using Ortiz’s information, went to the
Wayne Regional Service Center to take his
driver’s license test in Ortiz’s
name. A Motor Vehicle clerk at the Wayne Regional
Service discovered that Ortiz was already
in their system with a different identifying
photo. Upon the discovery of the discrepancy,
the individual was prohibited from take the
driver’s test and was subsequently placed
under arrest. The case was then referred from
the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Security
and Investigations Unit to the Division of
Criminal Justice for further investigation.
An
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and a
$150,000 criminal fine while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years
in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000.
Detective
Fred Moore and Deputy Attorney General Frank
Brady coordinated the investigation. Brady
presented the case to the state grand jury.
Attorney General Milgram also thanked MVC
investigator Michael Avella and Wayne Police
Detective Dennis Paylo for their assistance
in the investigation.
#
# # |
