CA Department of Motor Vehicles- Bakersfield Man Sentenced for Driver License Counterfeiting

Bakersfield-Officials of the California Department of Motor Vehicles reported today that Kern County District Attorney Edward R. Jagels has reached a plea agreement with a 20 year-old Bakersfield man who was facing charges of manufacturing and selling counterfeit California driver’s licenses primarily for use by under-age students to purchase alcohol.

“I’m pleased this case has been brought to a quick conclusion,” said DMV Director Chon Gutierrez. “These phony driver licenses are one of the greatest contributors to young people who die from mixing alcohol and driving. The hard work of DMV investigators and the support of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office in reducing the availability of these phony licenses will result in saving lives. I commend their work!”

The prosecution was triggered by a DMV investigation which began seven months ago in July of 2003. On January 7, 2004, Andrew Jonathan Wirth pleaded no contest to a violation of Penal Code section 483.5(a) - manufacturing, offering for sale, or selling deceptive identification documents - on the condition that he serve up to one year in the Kern County Jail as a condition of felony probation.

Mr. Wirth also agreed to the forfeiture of the computers and equipment he used to make the counterfeit licenses. He will be sentenced tomorrow, February 5, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 12 of the Kern County Superior Court.

Bakersfield DMV Investigators arrested Wirth in November, 2003, after a search warrant was served at Wirth’s apartment--which led to the seizure of three computers and computer-related items used to manufacture counterfeit government documents. Investigators also seized security laminate with the California state seal and the DMV logo, as well as counterfeit California driver licenses.

A DMV Computer Forensics Investigations Unit examination of the computers seized at Wirth’s home revealed evidence that over forty persons, mostly residents of Bakersfield and under the age of 21, had purchased counterfeit California driver’s licenses from Wirth. As a result, DMV Investigators were able to track down and interview young people who had purchased the counterfeit licenses. Those fraudulent cards were then confiscated.

During the investigation, the Department also discovered twenty-eight people who were unaware their driving records might have been compromised because Wirth had duplicated their license numbers on the counterfeits he sold. The DMV provided each of those customers with an opportunity to obtain a new driver license number.

The Kern County District Attorney’s Office charged Wirth with forgery of a California driver license, possession of a counterfeit state seal, and manufacturing false Identification documents.

According to District Attorney Edward R. Jagels, “This case demonstrates the close working relationship between the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and the investigators of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Both agencies take these types of crime seriously. Together we will aggressively seek out and prosecute those who counterfeit California identification documents.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DMV Media Relations Office
(916) 657-6437