US EditionBay County Sheriff’s Office Assists ICE, Eight Individuals Taken Into Custody
- On June 12, 2025, Florida’s Attorney General and the sheriff of Bay County jointly announced the apprehension of eight individuals connected to a fraudulent driver's license operation in the area.
- The arrests followed a multi-agency investigation initiated less than a month earlier after authorities detected two DMV employees issuing unusually high numbers of licenses bypassing required tests.
- Two DMV employees, Bancelie Velazco and Demetrius Smith, allegedly received cash payments in person and via cash app, while intermediaries, including Panama City residents and a company named CubaMax, facilitated applications.
- Charges include multiple counts of unlawful driver's license issuance and official misconduct, and investigators seized roughly $120,000 in illicit proceeds from the accused’s homes.
- The ongoing investigation aims to uphold Florida's 2023 law barring illegal immigrants from obtaining licenses, with officials warning that further arrests and charges are expected.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Kokomo TribuneRokita: Police may arrest for driving without a license
A new opinion issued this week by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita asserts that law enforcement officers can arrest people caught driving without a license — including undocumented immigrants — and book them into a county jail.
Major Illegal Immigrant Driver's License Scheme Busted-Up In Florida, 8 Arrested
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced on Thursday the dismantling of an illicit scheme that provided driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants in exchange for cash. The joint operation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has resulted in the arrest of eight individuals to […] Major Illegal Immigrant Driver’s License Scheme Busted-Up In Florida, 8 Arr…
Colorado Politics
Denver GazetteMulti-agency task force arrests eight in illegal driver’s license scheme
(The Center Square) — Florida law enforcement authorities continue to crack down on crime related to noncitizens and illegal immigration. The latest is an illegal driver’s license scheme involving Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles employees. On Thursday, Bay…
Multi-agency task force arrests eight in illegal driver's license scheme
(The Center Square) — Florida law enforcement authorities continue to crack down on crime related to noncitizens and illegal immigration. The latest is an illegal driver's license scheme involving Department
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
