Latonya Young, Mail Fraud, New York 2012

Buffalo, NY - In a shocking case of corruption, Latonya Young, a 44-year-old former employee of the Erie County Clerk's Office who worked at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV), was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release for mail fraud.

According to court documents, Young had access to the NYS DMV database and computer system, which contained sensitive information such as driver's licenses, motor vehicle registration, and title records. Between June 13, 2012, and August 30, 2012, Young unlawfully processed fraudulent duplicate title applications in exchange for cash payments totaling $725.

The defendant forged the name of the person listed on the duplicate title applications, further complicating the case. Young also admitted to assisting another individual in creating a fake identification in 2010, which was used to obtain alcohol by an underage person.

The investigation into Young's activities was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NYS DMV, under the direction of Commissioner Barbara Fiala, Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance, NYS Department of Financial Services, and the NYS Inspector General's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr. handled the prosecution and stated that Young's actions were a serious breach of trust and a threat to public safety.

The sentencing marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation into Young's activities, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions.

Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, (716) 551-3051

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/dmv-employee-sentenced-mail-fraud