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| 15 indicted for selling fake driver's licences to illegal aliens |
| 2005-02-27 |
| Severely EFL Federal authorities in Cincinnati charged 15 people Thursday with taking part in a conspiracy to illegally obtain Ohio driver's licenses for immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. The accused ringleader, Mohammad I. Shalash, teamed with Tammy Black, an employee of the deputy registrar's office at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' downtown office to produce the licenses and charged the immigrants up to $300 each, federal prosecutors said. Shalash, a U.S. citizen originally from Jordan, paid Black with as many as 200 phone cards worth $10 each, prosecutors said. He took the immigrants to the registrar's office, located across the street from the Hamilton County Courthouse, one by one over the course of several months last year. Fred Stratmann, spokesman for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said the bureau has made several changes in recent years to improve security and training of personnel, including background checks on all employees. Black was hired before the checks began, but because she had no prior criminal record she likely would have been cleared anyway. Nine of them, including Black, were arrested Thursday. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement were trying to track down the others, including Shalash, late Thursday. Magistrate Judge Timothy Black - who is not related to Tammy Black - released her without bond after her lawyer indicated she had a husband and daughter in Cincinnati and no prior convictions. Eight of the immigrants accused of obtaining the licenses were held without bond because of immigration violations. Shalash and Black each are charged with one count of conspiracy and 13 counts of illegal production of a driver's license. They face up to 15 years in prison on each charge. The others are charged with one count of conspiracy and one count each of illegal production of a driver's license. The Gang: Of the 15 people indicted Thursday, two are U.S. citizens, five were in the U.S. illegally and the other eight had entered the country legally but remained in the United States illegally. Mohammed Shalash, 30, of Cincinnati, is a permanent resident. He is charged with 14 counts in the indictment. Tammy Black, 40, of Cleves, is a U.S. citizen. She was charged with 14 counts in the indictment. Ismail Shalash, 41, of Cincinnati, permanent residence is pending approval; faces six charges. Ahlam Mustafa (aka Ahlam Abu-Saba), 37, of Cincinnati, overstayed visit in U.S.; faces six charges. Karamba Tounkara, 34, of Cincinnati, illegal alien; faces 13 charges. Fuad Shannak, 48, of Cincinnati, overstayed visit in U.S.; faces eight charges. Belal An Owda (aka Blal An Owdi), 31, of Cincinnati, illegally in the U.S.; faces two charges. Mohammed Qadah, 22, of Cincinnati, illegally in the U.S.; faces 11 charges. Khaled Daqer, 38, of Cincinnati, illegally in the U.S.; faces seven charges. Mazen Akkawi, 25, of Cincinnati, permanent residence in the U.S. is pending approval; faces four charges. Ayed Alhasasneh, 41, of Centerville, illegally in the U.S.; faces three charges. Mohammad Albararawi (aka Mohammad Al-Barbarawi), 24, of West Chester, conditional permanent residence; faces five charges. Mohammad Khaddash, 22, permanent residence is pending approval; faces nine charges. Abdulrahim Raya, 58, of Cincinnati, overstayed visit in U.S.; faces 10 charges. Loay Shannak, 20, of Cincinnati, currently not in the United States. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #4 Mohammad Khaddash, 22, permanent residence is pending approval May I suggest permanent residence at Ohio's super-max prison in Youngstown? (That would make a fitting home for the other 14 scumbags as well.) |
| Posted by: GK 2005-02-27 4:02:11 PM |
| #3 Law enforcement worthy of the name. Commendations to the Cincinnati police force and all who serve. |
| Posted by: Annie War 2005-02-27 3:09:07 PM |
| #2 Tammy Black, 40, of Cleves Is this the one known has the Hair of Flanders? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-02-27 12:35:38 PM |
| #1 hmmm - not a Manuel Labor among them |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-02-27 12:29:34 PM |