BALTIMORE, MD News (7/3/2024) – Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today the indictments of three individuals for their alleged involvement in an identity fraud scheme at a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) branch in Baltimore City. The indicted individuals are Erica Danielle Watson, 29, of Brooklyn, Maryland; Larry Antonio Marshall, 54, and Shanice Tiera Smith, 34, both of Baltimore. They face charges of identity fraud scheme and conspiracy to commit an identity fraud scheme with a value between $25,000 and $100,000. Additionally, Marshall and Watson are charged with bribing and conspiring to bribe a public employee, while Smith, a former MVA employee, faces charges of accepting bribes and misconduct in office.
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“State employees have a responsibility to use their position to protect our residents, not to engage in conduct that puts others at risk of financial or personal harm,” stated Attorney General Brown. “Our Office will hold accountable any state employee who abuses their position for personal gain.”
The charges arise from an alleged fraudulent scheme that compromised the MVA’s system for awarding driving credentials to eligible drivers. In the spring of 2022, Marshall and Smith were employed as a contract custodian and a customer agent, respectively, at the MVA branch on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore City. The scheme purportedly began with Watson advertising on Instagram the issuance of MVA credentials, including driver’s licenses and learner’s permits, for $600 each.
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Smith and Watson are accused of accepting payments from MVA applicants and orchestrating a plan wherein Watson assumed the identities of at least 66 applicants to take the written portion of the driver’s tests on their behalf. Smith, whose responsibilities included administering the knowledge tests, allegedly allowed Watson to complete these tests for applicants who were not present. Watson and Marshall are also accused of using part of the collected funds to bribe Smith for her assistance in the scheme.
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The defendants’ cases are scheduled to be heard in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
In his announcement, Attorney General Brown extended his gratitude to the Criminal Division, specifically the Fraud and Corruption Unit, Assistant Attorney General Alyn Pearson, and Investigative Auditor Harry Armstrong for their work on this case. He also acknowledged the efforts of the Security and Investigations team at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Story by multiple RFHC contributors.
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