PHOENIX – Identity theft involving Arizona driver licenses and ID cards. Used vehicle deals in which buyers can’t get titles transferred to their names. Unlicensed dealers flipping salvaged vehicles to unsuspecting buyers in a practice known as curbstoning.

As the state agency responsible for driver licenses and IDs, vehicle titles and more, the Arizona Department of Transportation is responsible for investigating these and other crimes through an Office of Inspector General staffed by detectives with extensive law enforcement experience.

These detectives, all of them Arizona POST-certified peace officers, will investigate fraud involving vehicle dealers, unlicensed vehicle dealers, vehicle titles, and driver licenses and state ID cards. Their duties include preventing identity theft by using facial recognition techniques and technology to detect individuals who attempt to obtain driver licenses and ID cards under the names of others.

“It makes sense for ADOT to employ detectives to investigate these kinds of cases since the Motor Vehicle Division, also under ADOT, has the information needed to help resolve these matters,” said Tim Lane, director of ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division, which includes the Office of Inspector General. “Our detectives can investigate these cases quickly and efficiently by having direct access to MVD’s databases.”

While most of the 215 officers with ADOT’s Enforcement and Compliance Division man ports of entry to enforce laws involving commercial vehicles, about 40 are detectives with the mission of preventing fraud. Whatever their role, officers with the Enforcement and Compliance Division officers have the same level of certification and training as officers with other law enforcement agencies around the state.

And like officers with other law enforcement agencies in Arizona, they must be prepared for the unexpected, whether they are serving an arrest warrant on someone suspected of identity theft or are inspecting trucks at a commercial port of entry. As a result, they carry firearms.

“All law enforcement work, including that in ADOT’s field of focus, always involves risk,” Lane said. “As we’ve seen recently, having certified officers with the proper training certainly helps keep our officers safe.”

ADOT detectives use a variety of methods to solve cases, including facial recognition techniques and technology. Over the past few years, detectives have solved more than 150 cases using the facial recognition, such as nabbing a 40-year fugitive from New York, an 89-year-old man who collected nearly $300,000 in stolen Social Security benefits and a man using the stolen identity of an infant who died in a 1982 homicide to avoid paying child support.

Detectives also use undercover sting operations to catch unlicensed dealers selling more vehicles than allowed by state law in a 12-month period. One such investigation led to the arrest of an Avondale man who had sold 124 vehicles in 11 months without a dealer’s license.

Other agencies will also bring potential fraud cases to the Office of Inspector General. Last summer, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office alerted detectives to a Valley used car dealer who was trying to sell the same vehicle multiple times online without delivering the title after payment was made. ADOT detectives opened an investigation that led to his arrest for theft of the buyer’s money without delivering the vehicle.

“Our detectives are very proactive and good at what they do,” Lane said. “Their skill in solving identity theft cases, title fraud and stopping unlicensed dealers is unparalleled. Other agencies will often come to us for help in solving these types of cases.”

PHOENIX – A Glendale resident who allegedly used his brother’s identity to apply for an Arizona driver license was revealed to have a felony warrant out of Illinois and has been charged with forgery thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

In late February, Luis Castro, 32, applied for an Arizona driver license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his brother at the Glendale MVD office.

ADOT’s facial recognition system found that Castro’s photo did not match the previous photo under his brother’s profile. Detectives, who have FBI training in facial recognition, confirmed this was the case and opened an investigation.

ADOT’s investigation found that Castro’s photo matched a booking photo from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. Digging further, detectives found that Castro had an extraditable felony warrant out of Cook County for aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and prohibited possessor of firearms.

Confirming that fraud had taken place, OIG canceled the permanent credential. When Castro called MVD looking for his driver license that hadn’t shown up in the mail, detectives made arrangements with him to meet at the West Phoenix MVD office on April 17 where Castro believed he was picking up the fraudulent credential.

ADOT detectives arrested Castro in the parking lot on counts of forgery and the felony warrant out of Illinois. He was booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Fourth Avenue Jail.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards. 

PHOENIX – A Goodyear resident who used stolen identities to obtain Arizona commercial driver licenses, open a business and purchase a home was arrested thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

When Jose Casas, 41, visited a Motor Vehicle Division office Dec. 6 to renew his commercial driver license, the system found that his photo closely resembled two others in ADOT’s database. ADOT detectives with FBI training in facial recognition determined that all three of the photos were of Casas.

In 2007, Casas applied for an Arizona commercial driver license using a forged Illinois commercial driver license under the name of a Texas resident. He then used the stolen identity to open a trucking business, purchase vehicles for the business, and purchase personal vehicles and a house in Goodyear.

Detectives served a search warrant Feb. 7 at Casas’ Goodyear residence and arrested him. Casas was booked at the Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail on several counts of forgery and fraud schemes as well as mortgage fraud.

After being fingerprinted, detectives discovered that Casas had an outstanding warrant from 1996 in Illinois for failure to appear on drug charges, including delivery of narcotic drugs and possession of cocaine. He was booked as a fugitive after the state of Illinois verified the warrant. 

The investigation also found that Casas had two other Arizona commercial driver licenses under stolen identities, both of which are currently under medical suspension.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

ADOT’s Office of the Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

PHOENIX – Since the Arizona Department of Transportation began using facial recognition technology and training in 2015 to protect Arizonans from identity theft, detectives have brought more than 100 cases to court.

It’s a process that begins when a person applies for or renews a driver license or ID card at a Motor Vehicle Division office or Authorized Third Party business, and it is a seamless part of the customer’s visit.

After the customer’s picture is taken, the photo goes through a check against all others in the state driver license database while the customer finishes the application process.

All of the analysis takes place inside a computer, and if the system finds the applicant’s photo likely matches another photo under a different name, it flags the photos, putting a temporary stop on printing the permanent card. The photos are then sent to FBI-trained staff members at ADOT’s Office of Inspector General where they undergo three levels of review to verify that the photos are of the same person.

“This high-tech tool has really enhanced our ability to catch identity thieves,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of the Office of Inspector General. “When we couple this technology with other security measures like central credential issuance, it allows us to stop these criminals and keep Arizona IDs out of their hands.”

 

The detectives and staff members are trained to look for similarities in facial features and even account for identical twins. If photos are confirmed to be the same person on multiple profiles, ADOT detectives will open an investigation.

If detectives determine that a person is committing fraud, the license or ID card is never printed. The temporary credentials customers receive at MVD offices and Authorized Third Party businesses expire after 30 days.

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

For more information about applying for an Arizona driver license or ID card, please visit: azdot.gov/driverlicenseinfo.

PHOENIX – A Mesa resident who allegedly used the identity of his deceased brother to collect nearly $300,000 in Social Security benefits has been charged with forgery and fraud schemes thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

After being alerted by the facial recognition system, ADOT’s Office of Inspector General found that Frank Becht, 89, had for the past 28 years been using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his brother, Kenneth Becht, who died in 1989.

In September 2009, Becht applied for an Arizona identification card under the stolen name at the Mesa MVD office. In April 2010, Becht applied for a driver license under his real name. He updated each of the credentials in the last couple of years.

ADOT’s facial recognition system found Becht’s photo on his profile and a profile under his brother’s identity. Detectives, who have FBI training in facial recognition, determined that both of the photos were of Becht.

ADOT’s investigation found that the Social Security Administration hadn’t been made aware that Becht’s brother, Kenneth, had died 28 years ago, and therefore had been paying out benefits. ADOT detectives found Kenneth Becht’s death certificate and provided it to federal officials.

The investigation also revealed that Becht had used his brother’s identity on credit cards and state-issued IDs in Maryland, Virginia and Nevada.

ADOT detectives arrested Becht, who was released without being booked. Charges for fraud schemes and forgery have been filed with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

PHOENIX – Expertise and facial-recognition technology employed by Arizona Department of Transportation detectives safeguard the personal information of not only Arizonans but those in other states who are targeted by identity thieves here.

Two cases brought by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General highlight these efforts:

In September, detectives investigating fraud involving a motor vehicle record found that Robert Chalue of Surprise had been using the identity of a Maine resident for more than 15 years, resulting in the victim facing credit problems and traffic tickets that weren’t his. The investigation led detectives to Chalue’s home, where they apprehended him along with several identifying documents belonging to the victim. Chalue is facing multiple counts of forgery and identity theft.

In June, ADOT detectives determined that Terry Lee Rice of Phoenix stole the identity of a Georgia man and used it to obtain an Arizona identification card. Their investigation found that Rice used the stolen identity for years to hide from violent crimes committed in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida, where he faced an extraditable felony warrant. With the help of the Phoenix Police Department, ADOT detectives located Rice, who was booked for the felony warrant plus six additional felony counts related to fraudulently obtaining the Arizona credential.

Facial-recognition technology allows checks against customer records in the state’s driver license database, preventing fraudulent attempts to obtain driver licenses or identification cards. In addition to the work by ADOT detectives, customer service representatives in ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division are trained to detect forgery and fraud when they perform the first checks for discrepancies in application packets.

At least seven of the dozens of identity-theft cases brought this year by ADOT detectives have involved victims beyond Arizona.

“We know the value of keeping your identity intact, so we take identity theft seriously,” said Michael Lockhart, chief of ADOT’s Office of Inspector General. “Facial-recognition technology helps our detectives take identity thieves off the street and keep the identities of residents of Arizona and other states safe.”

ADOT’s Office of Inspector General investigates fraud involving driver license and identification card applications; vehicle sales by licensed and unlicensed dealers; and vehicle titles and registration. It also assists state, local and federal law enforcement agencies with investigations.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation is taking an active role in curbing identity theft and fraud by implementing facial recognition technology in the application process for state-issued credentials.

An applicant for a new or duplicate driver license or state ID card at an ADOT Motor Vehicle Division or Authorized Third Party office will have their photo taken at the beginning of the process. Facial recognition during the “Photo First” review process occurs seamlessly and without delay as the customer continues through the application process.

In 2012, ADOT Motor Vehicle Division implemented a Photo First approach to aid in the detection of and prevention of fraud, forgery and identity theft. In 2014, ADOT Motor Vehicle Division implemented Central Credential Issuance, eliminating credentials being issued at the MVD or Authorized Third Party offices. Both processes have contributed to a more comprehensive review of applications along with providing more time to identify possible fraudulent submissions.

One of the best screening formats in the detection of identity theft, attempted fraud or forgery in the application process has always been the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division customer service representatives who initially review all documents submitted in the application packet. During this initial screening process of the application packet by ADOT employees, possible file errors or fraudulent submissions are detected.

“Facial recognition technology supports the commitment by ADOT to protect the privacy of its customers, and to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the credential issuance process,” said ADOT Director John Halikowski. “This technology enables us to fight against fraud and identity theft.”

The technology provides an effective screening method to identify errors in customer records in the state driver license database and to prevent fraudulent attempts to obtain an Arizona driver license or identification card. It also allows ADOT to develop the new federally compliant Voluntary Travel ID according to the requirements outlined in the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.

When a credential application record generates an alert resulting from the facial recognition technology, the system will automatically perform an additional review of the record to identify and correct any possible file errors. If the system verifies it is not a file error, the record will then undergo a comprehensive review by personnel in the ADOT Office of the Inspector General.

“This technology allows us to take a proactive approach to protecting people’s identities and stopping fraud,” said ADOT Assistant Director Terry Conner, who leads the Enforcement and Compliance Division. “Our detectives are already working investigations after reviewing reliable information provided by the system.”

For more information about applying for an Arizona driver license or ID card, please visit: azdot.gov/driverlicenseinfo.