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52 are accused of selling drivers' licenses illegally

It was an invitation to terrorists, say officials announcing the arrests.

MIAMI - Fifty-two people have been arrested on criminal charges or immigration violations stemming from an alleged scheme that sold thousands of commercial Florida licenses to illegal drivers.

The scheme demonstrated potential vulnerability to terrorists, investigators said Thursday.

The licenses, obtained fraudulently from three state license examiners, allow the holders access to secure areas at airports and seaports and permitted them to drive trucks carrying fuel and other hazardous cargo.

"These cases are important because a driver's license is a bad guy's ticket in," U.S. Attorney Marcos Daniel Jimenez said.

Jesus Torres, special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Miami, said there was no evidence any of those who bought the licenses had connections to terrorism.

Officials in Washington said more than 2,000 Florida licenses were obtained illegally. More arrests were likely.

Of the 52 arrested, 23 face criminal charges and 29 face deportation for violating immigration laws, Torres said.

Florida drivers' licenses figured prominently in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with nine hijackers having such licenses and three others possessing identification cards issued by Florida. Florida revamped its licenses to make them more difficult to counterfeit, but Jimenez said problems remain.

"We have a long way to go after 9/11," Jimenez said. According to investigators, the scheme revolved around three license examiners - two in Broward County and one in Miami-Dade County - who allegedly sold licenses for $100 to $200 apiece. They were brought customers by five "recruiters" who charged between $1,500 and $3,000 to people from numerous countries.

Obtaining a commercial driver's license allowed these people to falsely claim U.S. citizenship and to gain access to large trucks and equipment, Torres said.

Torres said 36 of the licenses were issued to people without proper training, 11 of whom were involved in accidents with injuries, including one fatality.

The three examiners facing charges in a federal criminal complaint were identified as Derene Frasier, Tracie Dunlap and Yvette Jackson. Maj. David Brierton of the Florida Highway Patrol said the three were in the process of being fired.

[Last modified April 29, 2005, 00:33:10]