Nearly two dozen suspects have been arrested in a major investigation into fraud at motor vehicle tag agencies across Miami-Dade, authorities said.
“Operation Ghost Writer” involves a six-month investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office.
At a news conference Friday, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said 22 suspects have been arrested so far in the investigation.
In one case, multiple suspects were arrested last week at a Hialeah tag agency.
The investigation uncovered a coordinated fraud scheme multiple motor vehicle tag agencies across Miami-Dade, where clerks unlawfully accessed Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles databases to obtain personal information and vehicle information, Cordero-Stutz said.
The information was misused to conduct fraudulent vehicle title transactions, with some clerks collaborating with vehicle dealers to falsify signatures, process transactions and create fraudulent power of attorney documents to illegally transfer vehicle ownership.
Cordero-Stutz said the suspects face charges including official misconduct, providing false information on a public record, vehicle title forgery and alteration, tampering with evidence, and uttering forged instruments.
The investigation is ongoing and there could be more charges, the sheriff said.
“Anyone who abuses public trust or manipulates government records for personal gain will face consequences,” Cordero-Stutz said.
The sheriff added that authorities are reviewing safeguards and working to enhance oversight to prevent this type of fraud in the future.