How an international scammer managed to get a New York driver’s license – Jalopnik

A driver’s license isn’t just the card you need to legally get behind the wheel and hit the road. The document is so ubiquitous that it is the country’s standard form of government-issued identification. The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is under fire after an international fugitive arrested by police last week was found to be in possession of a legally issued driver’s license under an assumed name. The man was taken into custody for allegedly stealing an $11,000 diamond bracelet with the help of a female accomplice.

The man, who operated under various aliases, illegally entered the United States through Mexico in 2022. According to CBS Newshe was wanted in three countries and was part of an organized crime group in Romania. The fugitive obtained a New York driver’s license last year under the name David Beckham Adam. Nassau County police allege Adam and his accomplice were involved in a scheme at a Long Island jewelry store. Video footage showed the woman putting on the bracelet as an employee presented the store’s merchandise.

Should a driver’s license be a strictly regulated form of identification if access to transportation is an essential part of maintaining employment? The DMV has a hard enough time making sure drivers are skilled enough to hit the road. However, the Department of Homeland Security disagrees. There is now a two-tier licensing system with the introduction of REAL ID, which is only available to citizens and legal residents. While the new security standard allows REAL ID holders to enter federal buildings and board domestic flights, states cannot afford to deprive those without federal documentation of driving privileges.

This isn’t the first time New York’s DMV has come under scrutiny this year. A joint law enforcement operation revealed that three DMV employers and a driving school in Queens were operating a fraud scheme. The conspirators bypassed road tests for $2,000, essentially selling licenses. Social media advertisements targeted Chinese immigrants from Fujian. In this scenario, the safety of motorists on the road was a much greater concern than national security.