Washington Woman Pleads Guilty to Fake ID Scheme

Alexandria, VA – In a brazen scheme that netted her hundreds of thousands of dollars, 30-year-old Ashya Janai Harley of Washington, D.C. has pleaded guilty to using fake documentation to obtain over 100 Virginia driver’s licenses for individuals who did not qualify.

According to court documents, Harley charged people hundreds of dollars to help them fraudulently obtain Virginia driver’s licenses. She used falsified documents to obtain her own Virginia commercial driver’s license, which she used to gain employment as a WMATA bus driver. Two other people Harley assisted in fraudulently obtaining Virginia commercial driver’s licenses were employed as WMATA drivers.

While not altering identities, Harley would electronically alter driving transcripts and proof of residency documents required by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue driver’s licenses. Harley reused many of the same documents, often using her own bank or AT&T statements, for more than 54 fraudulent license applications. She also reused her own driver’s transcripts many times.

Harley used her mother’s address in Alexandria on more than 67 proof of residency documents that she used to fraudulently assist others in obtaining the Virginia licenses. A Virginia DMV customer service agent noticed the repetition, alerting DMV Law Enforcement. DMV’s Law Enforcement Division began an investigation that ultimately led to Harley’s arrest.

Harley advertised her services for obtaining licenses on her Instagram accounts and buyers were also referred to Harley by her friends, family, and prior customers. Harley charged most buyers approximately $300 for securing driver’s licenses and $450 for commercial driver’s licenses. Overall, Harley aided and abetted in the acquisition of at least 124 Virginia driver’s licenses, 30 of which were commercial driver’s licenses.

The Virginia DMV immediately cancelled all 124 licenses. Harley is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and Katherine Rumbaugh are prosecuting the case. The investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, the Virginia DMV’s Law Enforcement Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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