Clarence Jenkins Charged with Accepting Forged Documents to Issue Driver Licenses Unlawfully
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York State Inspector General Ellen N. Biben announced the indictment of CLARENCE JENKINS, 56, a clerk at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), for unlawfully processing applications for New York State driver licenses to three individuals, including at least one deported felon who illegally returned to the country, after accepting forged driver licenses purportedly issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that JENKINS knew were forgeries. JENKINS is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, Issuing a False Certificate, and Official Misconduct.
“Taking advantage of his position as a public employee, this defendant is charged with enabling at least one deported felon to unlawfully obtain a New York driver license,” said District Attorney Vance. “In doing so, he may have jeopardized public safety.”
Inspector General Biben said: “The charged conduct is not only criminal but exposed the public to the risk of other crimes. My office will continue to root out such breaches of the public trust, and I thank District Attorney Vance’s office for their effective work on this matter.”
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Barbara J. Fiala said: “The processing of license documents without presenting proper identification is a serious crime which the department will continue to assist law enforcement and prosecutors in preventing. I congratulate the DMV staff and law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation as well as the staff of the District Attorney who will prosecute this case.”
The DMV routinely issues New York State driver licenses to individuals who present valid licenses from other states or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record, JENKINS worked for ten years as a clerk at the DMV office located at 159 East 125th Street in Manhattan. He is accused of accepting forged driver licenses purportedly issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from at least three individuals who paid money to obtain the illegally-issued New York State driver licenses.
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, a previously deported felon paid $3,500 to obtain a license from JENKINS. This individual was given specific instructions to go to the DMV at 125th Street, wear a Yankees hat, sit in front of JENKINS’ window, and then wait for a signal from JENKINS. On January 13, 2009, JENKINS accepted a forged Puerto Rican driver license from the individual and, in turn, issued to him a New York State driver license.
On June 11, 2009, according to the indictment, JENKINS accepted a forged Puerto Rican driver license from a second individual, who paid $7,000 to obtain a genuine New York license from JENKINS. Finally, JENKINS is also accused of accepting, on August 20, 2009, a forged Puerto Rican driver license and issuing a New York State driver license to a third individual, who paid $4,000 for the license.
Assistant District Attorney Eli Cherkasky is prosecuting this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Daniel Cort, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit.
District Attorney Vance thanked Investigative Counsel Ken Michaels, Deputy Chief Investigator Nicholas D’Amelio, and Investigator Ann Peters from the New York State Inspector General’s Office; and Sergeant William Planeta and Detective Lawrence Lloyd of the Special Investigations Division of the New York City Police Department; and Senior Investigator Robert Riley of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their assistance in the case.
[1]The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant information:
CLARENCE JENKINS, D.O.B. 6/2/1955
New York, NY
Charges:
• Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts
• Issuing a False Certificate, a class E felony, 3 counts
• Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York State Inspector General Ellen N. Biben announced the indictment of CLARENCE JENKINS, 56, a clerk at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”), for unlawfully processing applications for New York State driver licenses to three individuals, including at least one deported felon who illegally returned to the country, after accepting forged driver licenses purportedly issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that JENKINS knew were forgeries. JENKINS is charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, Issuing a False Certificate, and Official Misconduct.
“Taking advantage of his position as a public employee, this defendant is charged with enabling at least one deported felon to unlawfully obtain a New York driver license,” said District Attorney Vance. “In doing so, he may have jeopardized public safety.”
Inspector General Biben said: “The charged conduct is not only criminal but exposed the public to the risk of other crimes. My office will continue to root out such breaches of the public trust, and I thank District Attorney Vance’s office for their effective work on this matter.”
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Barbara J. Fiala said: “The processing of license documents without presenting proper identification is a serious crime which the department will continue to assist law enforcement and prosecutors in preventing. I congratulate the DMV staff and law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation as well as the staff of the District Attorney who will prosecute this case.”
The DMV routinely issues New York State driver licenses to individuals who present valid licenses from other states or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record, JENKINS worked for ten years as a clerk at the DMV office located at 159 East 125th Street in Manhattan. He is accused of accepting forged driver licenses purportedly issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from at least three individuals who paid money to obtain the illegally-issued New York State driver licenses.
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court, a previously deported felon paid $3,500 to obtain a license from JENKINS. This individual was given specific instructions to go to the DMV at 125th Street, wear a Yankees hat, sit in front of JENKINS’ window, and then wait for a signal from JENKINS. On January 13, 2009, JENKINS accepted a forged Puerto Rican driver license from the individual and, in turn, issued to him a New York State driver license.
On June 11, 2009, according to the indictment, JENKINS accepted a forged Puerto Rican driver license from a second individual, who paid $7,000 to obtain a genuine New York license from JENKINS. Finally, JENKINS is also accused of accepting, on August 20, 2009, a forged Puerto Rican driver license and issuing a New York State driver license to a third individual, who paid $4,000 for the license.
Assistant District Attorney Eli Cherkasky is prosecuting this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Daniel Cort, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit.
District Attorney Vance thanked Investigative Counsel Ken Michaels, Deputy Chief Investigator Nicholas D’Amelio, and Investigator Ann Peters from the New York State Inspector General’s Office; and Sergeant William Planeta and Detective Lawrence Lloyd of the Special Investigations Division of the New York City Police Department; and Senior Investigator Robert Riley of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their assistance in the case.
[1]The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Defendant information:
CLARENCE JENKINS, D.O.B. 6/2/1955
New York, NY
Charges:
• Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony, 3 counts
• Issuing a False Certificate, a class E felony, 3 counts
• Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, 3 counts
Comments
Post a Comment