Five people in Louisville, Kentucky, have been indicted on federal charges for orchestrating a scheme to illegally issue driver’s licenses to legal resident non-citizens, including illegal aliens.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on February 4, accuses the group of fraud, money laundering, and producing unlawful identification documents.
Donnita Wilson, 32; Aariel Matthews, 27; Raul Tellez Ojeda, 32; Lazaro Alejandro Castello Rojas, 37; and Robert Danger Correa, 41, face a total of 14 counts each of mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, and unlawful production of identification documents, along with conspiracy charges for mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, and money laundering.
Wilson and Matthews were temporary contract employees assigned to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Driver Licensing, primarily at the NIA Center branch in Louisville.
The three men, who had no official role in the licensing process, allegedly recruited legally present non-U.S. citizens, many of whom struggled with English and the application process, promising expedited services for fees ranging from $200 to $1,500.
According to the indictment, the scheme operated from at least November 1, 2023, through October 2024.
The recruiters would arrange appointments, escort applicants to the NIA Center, and direct them to specific counters manned by Wilson and Matthews.
The employees then allegedly manipulated the state database by altering records to issue “duplicate” licenses without the applicants ever taking the required written or road tests, meaning they never demonstrated their ability to safely operate a vehicle.
This not only compromised road safety but also undermined the integrity of state-issued IDs, which are often used for banking, housing, travel, and in some cases, voter registration.
U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said in a statement obtained by the Courier Journal, “This fraudulent scheme involved kickbacks and bribes leading to numerous legally present, non-U.S. citizens obtaining unlawfully issued drivers licenses.”
The operation came to light following a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2025 by a former KYTC clerk, who alleged that colleagues were selling licenses to illegal aliens for $200 each.
The indictment specifies the applicants were legally present, but the initial allegations raised concerns about broader fraud involving illegal immigrants, prompting an investigation by Kentucky State Police, the Attorney General’s office, and federal partners.
If convicted, the fraudsters may face significant fines and prison time.
