A boyfriend and girlfriend face charges in a driver’s license scam in Montgomery County, police said.
Jose Luis Ventura, 33, and Desiree Lauren Alvarado, 28, were arrested last month, Montgomery County police said. Each face multiple theft-related charges.
Detectives found that Ventura would tell victims, who were Hispanic, he could legally acquire Maryland driver’s licenses. Police said that Ventura would charge about $1,500 to $1,800 for a license, tell victims that they needed to solicit more people for licenses and have the victims send him photocopies of personal documents. Alvarado would drive and accompany her boyfriend to meet victims and make arrangements with victims over the phone.
Ventura would arrange to meet victims at the Motor Vehicle Administration in Gaithersburg. The victims would drive in a van together, meet Ventura and give him an envelope with money, police said. Ventura would say he was going into the building to get the licenses, but he would leave with the money and the victims would never hear from the couple again.
Detectives have identified 14 victims that met Ventura at the MVA on March 19 and a 15th victim who met Ventura on Jan. 9. Ventura received a total of about $24,200 from these victims, and police are encouraging additional victims to come forward.
