Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, joined by Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, announced the arrest Thursday of eight individuals allegedly tied to an illegal alien driver's license scheme, with eight arrested so far.
According to a release, a joint Bay County Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations operation found two compromised Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees allegedly offering illegal aliens driver's licenses in exchange for cash.
"Florida's Sheriffs are on the front lines of our state's fight against illegal immigration, and Sheriff Ford is rooting out the corruption they bring into our state," Uthmeier said. "My warning to any illegal alien coming to Florida to commit further crimes: we are going to find you, hold you accountable, and then send you back to where you came from."
Specifically, the investigation surfaced after the employees allegedly issued a large number of driver's licenses. After reviewing the in-house video at the DMV, authorities confirmed that the individuals receiving licenses, who traveled to Bay County, were avoiding the required tests to obtain a driver's license.
Bay County is in northwest Florida.
Authorities added that the individuals coming to the compromised DMV employees were doing so through a third party operating as intermediaries and paying alleged conspirators Bancelie Velazco and Demetrius Smith, II, in person at the DMV or online through a cash app.
"We appreciate our partners that keep our state safe," Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said.
Along with Velazco and Smith, II, the attorney general's office arrested Niurbis Rosales, Leonardo Gutierrez, Hung Du, Isbrieta Parra, Zoila Gonzalez-Pena, and Mirna Fernandez. Charges include DMV employee issue unlawful driver's license, official misconduct, and unlawful possession of a driver's license
As attorney general, Uthmeier has been on the front line in Florida's approach to fighting illegal immigration.
Earlier this month, he announced a life sentence to an illegal alien convicted of human trafficking and rape. He also convicted an illegal alien in a theft ring.
