BOSTON — A Registry of Motor Vehicles clerk at the heart of a sprawling identity theft ring has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison. David Brimage, 46, of Boston, admitted to peddling fake Massachusetts driver’s licenses and ID cards in exchange for cash, betraying his role as a gatekeeper of state identification.
Brimage, sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin, will serve two years of supervised release following his prison term. He pleaded guilty in October 2017 alongside co-conspirators Evelyn Medina, 56, of Boston; Annette Gracia, 37, of Boston; Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph; and Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston. All have now been sentenced for their roles in producing false identification documents without lawful authority.
The scheme, which stretched back to at least 2015, began unraveling when an anonymous tip exposed a corrupt RMV employee issuing IDs to individuals using stolen identities. Investigators uncovered a network of Haymarket RMV clerks — Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and Brimage — who accepted hundreds of dollars in cash to process fraudulent applications for illegal immigrants, deported individuals, and others with criminal histories.
Brea and Dominican national Angel Miguel Beltre Tejada, 32, illegally residing in Jamaica Plain, sourced stolen U.S. identification documents from Puerto Rico, selling them to clients desperate for legitimacy. Tejada, who pocketed several hundred dollars per transaction, was sentenced in December 2017 to two years in prison on aggravated identity theft charges and faces deportation after release. Brea, who earned up to $2,700 per identity, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and three years of supervised release in February 2018.
“The conduct in this case was egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “We will always hold accountable those who violate the public trust. These defendants tried to profit by thwarting legal safeguards they were entrusted with enforcing.” Federal authorities emphasized that the scheme not only enriched the conspirators but also granted unauthorized access to government benefits and protections reserved for legal residents.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Diplomatic Security Service hailed the outcome as a victory for interagency cooperation. “Today’s sentencing highlights the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force’s continued vigilance,” said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge. William B. Gannon, Special Agent in Charge of Diplomatic Security in Boston, added that such corruption undermines national security and will be met with relentless pursuit.”
Related Federal Cases
- Methuen Man Gets 27 Months for Identity Theft Scheme · Massachusetts
- Worcester Three Guilty in Crack Cocaine Ring · Massachusetts
- Lopez, Santiago, Diaz Plead Guilty to Mass. Drug Ring · Massachusetts
- Lydia Torres Sentenced in $393K Identity Theft Tax Fraud · Massachusetts
- UPS Insider Sentenced in Cocaine Smuggling Ring · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption