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Man admits trafficking fake licensesBy Times staff writer© St. Petersburg Times published September 26, 2002 ST. PETERSBURG -- A driver's license clerk who sold Florida licenses under fake names to drug dealers has pleaded guilty in federal court and faces up to 20 years in prison. David K. Copeland, 44, who used to work at a driver's license office at 4827 34th St. S in St. Petersburg, pleaded guilty to violating the Hobbs Act, a federal anti-extortion law used to prosecute corrupt government officials. He was arrested in 1998. Authorities say Copeland, who made less than $19,000 a year, sold authentic-looking driver's licenses with made-up names for as much as $2,000 each. Investigators say Copeland developed a business arrangement with a crack cocaine distribution ring in St. Petersburg. They say Copeland made licenses or ID cards at least 18 times for associates of Elrick Bernard Wynn, an alleged St. Petersburg crack kingpin who was indicted in 1998 but remains at large.
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