WEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – Three men were arrested after officials said they were driven to cheat to receive their driver’s licenses.
Wednesday’s arrests, announced Thursday by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office, are part of an ongoing crackdown on driver license exam fraud going back to June.
Investigators said the suspects — identified as Karel Clavel-Beltran, Miguel Nuñez-Garcia and Alexis Fernandez — entered a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles testing location while wearing hidden devices, including microphones, recording equipment, earpieces, and small cameras.
In a statement issued Thursday, authorities said that Clavel-Beltran “used strategically placed cameras and earpieces to help Miguel Nuñez-Garcia and Alexis Fernandez cheat on the computer-based driver’s license examination.”
According to Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez, Nuñez-Garcia and Alex Fernandez arrived at the DMV inside the Midway Crossings Mall in Miami on Wednesday to take their exams, but beforehand in the parking lot, they met with Clavel-Beltran, who gave them polo shirts to change into.
A button on the polo shirt contained a camera that can be closely seen, according to photos shared by Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said that is what Clavel-Beltran used to read test questions on computer screens and then told Alexis Fernandez and Nuñez-Garcia the answers through ear pieces.
Dariel Fernandez called the suspects’ actions “deliberate, dishonest, and a direct attack on the integrity of Florida’s driver’s license process.”
“Obtaining a driver license is a privilege that comes with the responsibility of safely operating a vehicle on our roadways. When someone attempts to cheat the testing process, they undermine the integrity of the system and put the safety of our community at risk,” said Dariel.
Thursday morning, Alexis Fernandez and Nuñez-Garcia appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
“You were arrested for two cases. They’re both from July 15th. You’re charged with cheating, unlawful use of a communications device, and organized scheme to defraud,” Glazer told one of the suspects.
By law, Florida driver’s license exams are all administered in English only now, though Alexis Fernandez said language had nothing to do with it.
Miami-Dade detectives said the men taking the exams did raise suspicion because they didn’t speak any English when they approached them.
Dariel Fernandez stated people who have trouble with English can practice the exam online.
“Right now, the test is in English. So that being said, I recommend to the people don’t do this because if they try to do this in our office, we’re going to catch them,” said Dariel Fernandez.
Alexis Fernandez and Nuñez-Garcia paid $600 to Clavel-Beltran for the services, according to investigators.
All of the men have been granted bond. Clavel-Beltran is being held on an $8,000 bond pending a hold by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Nuñez-Garcia has posted his $7,650 bond, but he’s also being held for ICE officials. Alexis Fernandez is being held on a $2,500 bond.
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