Police arrested eight people in connection with a Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) bribery scheme.
On June 12, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of the following eight individuals in connection with a scheme to provide driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants.
- Bancelie Velazco, 37, on nine counts of DMV Employee Issue Unlawful Driver’s License (DL) and nine counts of Official Misconduct
- Demetrius Smith II, 30, on eight counts of DMV Employee Issue Unlawful DL and eight counts of Official Misconduct
- Niurbis Rosales, 37, on 24 counts of Principal: DMV Employee Issue Fraud DL and 24 counts Principal: Official Misconduct
- Leonardo Gutierrez, 32, on seven counts of Principal: DMV Employee Issue Fraud DL and seven counts Principal: Official Misconduct
- Hung Du, 58, on 36 counts Principal: DMV Employee Issue Fraud DL and 36 counts Principal: Official Misconduct
- Isbrieta Parra, 44, on seven counts Principal: DMV Employee Issue Fraud DL and seven counts Principal: Official Misconduct
- Zoila Gonzalez-Pena, 38, on 12 counts Principal: DMV Employee Issue Fraud DL and 12 counts Principal: Official Misconduct
- Mirna Fernandez, 34, of Panama City, on a charge of Unlawful Possession of a Driver’s License
From BCSO:
“On May 20, 2025, BCSO investigators began the joint investigation with HSI due to the discovery of suspicious driver’s license transactions occurring at the Bay County Tax Collectors Office, the agent issuing driver’s licenses for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). Information was reported that two DMV employees were compromised and were being financially compensated to provide individuals with driver’s licenses, even though the individuals did not meet statutory requirements to lawfully obtain the license.
During the investigation, BCSO investigators learned that two employees were indeed issuing a unusually large number of drivers licenses and, when in-house video at the DMV was reviewed, investigators confirmed the individuals receiving the licenses were bypassing the required tests necessary to lawfully receive a license. These individuals were coming from across the state of Florida to Bay County to receive the driver’s licenses.
It was also learned that the individuals coming to Velazco and Smith to obtain their DL were doing so through a third party operating as intermediaries and were paying Velazco and Smith either in person at the DMV or online through a cash app. Financial records of Smith and Velazco were reviewed and it was learned that both of them were receiving suspicious cash app transactions and that Velazco was depositing a suspicious amount of cash into her accounts, inconsistent with her monthly salary. Some of the intermediaries were not individuals but organizations like CubaMax, located in Callaway in Bay County. CubaMax is a company that processes immigration documents. CubaMax acted as a referral source for those seeking to obtain driver’s licenses fraudulently, directing them to the local DMV. A search warrant was executed at CubaMax to obtain evidence of this scheme.“
Police seized $120,000 in U.S. currency from the homes of arrested employees as part of the investigation.
“Florida’s Sheriffs are on the front lines of our state’s fight against illegal immigration, and Sheriff Ford is rooting out the corruption they bring into our state,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “My warning to any illegal alien coming to Florida to commit further crimes: we are going to find you, hold you accountable, and then send you back to where you came from.”
“We appreciate our partners that keep our state safe,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.
