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Counter-terrorism investigators find alleged identity theft ring

July 26, 2009|Joel Rubin

If someone needed to register a car or truck stolen from another state, Laiwalla typically charged $400 and sent clients to two auto shops in Torrance and L.A. to forge various inspection documents, police allege. And, for a $75 fee, she would arrange for one of two driving schools to fabricate documents showing the client had attended court-mandated classes following traffic violations.

Two other women, one of whom was found guilty of identity theft charges in federal court alongside Laiwalla, are accused of procuring forged birth certificates and Social Security cards with legitimate numbers for about $1,500.

But it was the relationships Laiwalla allegedly built over several years with three employees at the DMV's Inglewood office that most disturbed enforcement officials. Those employees have been fired, Huber said.

One of the former employees is charged with illegally processing a license for an undercover agent -- a service for which Laiwalla charged $800 -- by forging the results on the written exam and driving test, according to court records. Another employee is charged with helping to illegally register a car. The third faces charges that she accessed DMV databases to help protect members of the crime ring associated with Hezbollah. That employee, police believe, erased electronic notifications the DMV uses to alert law enforcement during traffic stops that an arrest warrant has been issued against the person being detained.

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joel.rubin@latimes.com

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