FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jim Rybicki
Public Information Officer
Phone: (703) 842-4050 Fax: (703) 549-5202
E-Mail: usavae.press@usdoj.gov
Website: www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae

Defendants Sentenced in DMV Scheme

(Norfolk, Virginia) - Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today the sentencing of Jamille Candice Lowther, who pled guilty on April 14, 2006, to 84 months in prison and $10,000 in fines and Tonita Sykes, who pled guilty on April 12, 2006, to 60 months in prison and $9,000 in fines. They were convicted of conspiring to produce false identification documents. United States District Judge Rebecca Smith was the sentencing judge.

There were six defendants who were indicted on February 1, 2006, and charged with conspiracy to produce identification documents without lawful authority. In addition to the defendants sentenced today, Teshara Leann Sykes was sentenced on July 18, 2006, to 60 months in prison; Tomeka Brathwaite was sentenced on May 31, 2006, to three years probation; Andy Earl Brathwaite was sentenced on June 15, 2006, to 24 months in prison; and Felix Reyes was sentenced on June 21, 2006, to five months in prison.

The indictment alleged that the defendants sought to gain money through the sale of Virginia driver’s licenses to individuals who were not authorized by law to obtain them. The issuance of the fraudulent licenses was achieved by circumventing the normal identification and authorization procedures DMV had in place to prevent such fraud. The Sykes sisters andLowther, who were employees of DMV, issued the licenses. Andy Brathwaite found the buyers, negotiated the fees, and briefed the buyers on the application information they were to provide while the licenses were being issued at DMV branches. The indictment alleged that the purchasers paid $2,000 for a license.

The investigation was conducted by Special Agent Edward Renda of the FBI Norfolk Field Office and Dan Kelly of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Assistant United States Attorney Michael C. Moore prosecuted the case.

Note: DMV encourages individuals who suspect fraud regarding Virginia driver’s licenses or identification cards to call 1-877-ZERO-FRAUD or e-mail zerofraud@dmv.virginia.gov