NEW YORK (WPIX)—
As PIX News first reported here exclusively this morning, authorities have busted an identity theft ring and charged 22 people with selling drivers' licenses and other identification documents.Among those implicated in the ring are two New York State Department of Motor Vehicles exployees, who are believed to have earned over a $1 million dollars issuing more than 200 licenses and other documents over the past three years.
The alleged ring leader of the group was identified as Wilch Dewalt, also known as "Sharrief Sabazz Muhammad" and "License Man."
Authorities say he acted as a broker who, in exchange for a fee of between $7,000 and $10,000 served as a one-stop shop for fraudulent documents.
Among those who paid for the fraudulent i.d. were convicted felons, a drug dealer who was featured on "America's Most Wanted," and an individual who claimed to be on the government's "no fly" list and said he was going to Pakistan. That customer turned out to be a government undercover agent.
Of the 22 people charged, 19 are in custody. Three others are still being sought. Authorities say their investigation is continuing and have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests.
