Fake IDS prompt call for safety net

The fake IDS were used to process car titles.

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio lawmaker said he wants to prevent immigrants from registering vehicles unless they can prove they’re in the country legally.

Republican state Rep Courtney Combs of Hamilton suggested the policy a day after authorities in Butler County arrested several employees at three used-car dealerships, accusing them of selling fake IDs to illegal immigrants and doctoring other documents to help them buy vehicles illegally.

“I can’t stop you from buying a car. I think that would be unconstitutional; you have a right to buy anything you want, as long as you have the money,” Combs said Friday. “But what I can do is stop you from obtaining a tag or license to put on that car.”

He said his office has asked the Ohio Legislative Services Commission to research and draft a bill that would require proof of citizenship or legal immigration status before a motorist could receive a license plate or temporary tag.

He plans to introduce the proposal in the House next month.

State law requires drivers to show a state ID card or driver license to obtain a vehicle title, which is needed to register vehicles, said Bureau of Motor Vehicles spokeswoman Julie Ehrhart.

Nine people have been indicted in charges related to the alleged scam and eight appeared in Butler County Common Pleas Court on Friday. The ninth indicted person, Maria Martinez, 41, is recovering from surgery and said she planned to turn herself in, said assistant prosecutor Dan Ferguson.

Six defendants were released without bond and two were being held in lieu if $25,000 bail each.

The indictments include 34 charges, mostly related to allegations that records were tampered with.

Undercover officers were sold phony identification cards that were used to process car titles and registrations, Jones said.

He said the dealerships charged customers far more than fair-market value for the vehicles. The dealerships, Paul’s Auto Sales, Payless Auto Sales and Credit Auto Sales, are owned by immigrants from India. They have been closed.

“The grand jury was almost in shock that this was going on,” Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones said. “It’s happening all over the place, not just here, but we’re the ones calling attention to it. It’s rampant.”

One employee is also accused of impersonating a deputy sheriff in an attempt to scare customers into making late payments, Butler said.