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Date: 08-14-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Warner Antonio Portillo
Case Number: 8:19-cr-00321-TDC
Judge: Theodore D. Chuang
Court: United States District Court for the District of Maryland (Prince William's County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Kelly O. Hayes
Defendant's Attorney:
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Description:
Greenbelt, MD - Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Relating to a Scheme to Provide Fraudulent Maryland Driver’s Licenses to Applicants Who Paid a Fee
Conspiracy Included Bribe Payments to Two Employees of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Warner Antonio Portillo, age 34, of Manassas, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and transfer identification documents without lawful authority, specifically, Maryland driver’s licenses.
According to his plea agreement, from at least July 2015 through March 2016, Portillo conspired with two employees of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA conspirators), who worked in the Largo, Maryland branch office, and others, to produce and transfer Maryland driver’s licenses without lawful authority. Specifically, Portillo and others met with prospective Maryland driver’s license applicants who were willing to pay money to obtain a driver’s license illegally, typically because the applicants were aliens without legal status in the United States or were otherwise unable to obtain a lawfully issued driver’s license. The applicants paid Portillo and his co-conspirators between $800 and $5,000 in cash for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license.
Portillo admitted that he gave the MVA conspirators the names, addresses, and other information that applicants wished to appear on their Maryland driver’s licenses. Portillo provided the applicants and the MVA conspirators with fraudulent documents necessary to obtain a Maryland driver’s license, including proof of payment of taxes, proof of Maryland residence, a valid license number from Motor Vehicle Departments in other states, and an identification document. Portillo and others assisted the applicants to travel to the Largo branch of the MVA, and directed the applicants to one of the MVA conspirators’ workstations, where applicants obtained Maryland driver’s licenses produced by the MVA conspirators without lawful authority.
Portillo paid the MVA conspirators bribes of between approximately $500 and $1,000 in cash for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license transferred to the applicants. The conspiracy resulted in the unlawful production and transfer of at least 276 Maryland driver’s licenses.
Portillo faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the conspiracy. As part of his plea agreement, Portillo will also be required to pay a money judgment of at least $276,000, which constitutes assets derived from or obtained by Portillo as a result of the conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for December 19, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended HSI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Investigation and Security Services for its assistance.
Charge:
18:1028(f) FRAUD WITH IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
Outcome: 08/13/2019 5 NOTICE OF ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: Danny C Onorato as Retained Counsel appearing for Warner Antonio Portillo(Onorato, Danny) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 6 Receipt for Surrender of Passport as to Warner Antonio Portillo (sp2, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 7 Initial Appearance as to Warner Antonio Portillo (Defendant informed of Rights.) held on 8/13/2019 before Judge Theodore D. Chuang.(Court Reporter: Lisa Bankins - 2B) (jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 8 WAIVER OF INDICTMENT by Warner Antonio Portillo(jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 9 PAPERLESS NOTICE that a SENTENCING is scheduled for December 19, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Theodore D. Chuang at the United States Courthouse located at 6500 Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt, Maryland. The specific courtroom for the sentencing will be available the week of the proceeding on the Court's website. The U.S. Attorney's Office is responsible for ordering any come up or translators needed. If either party seeks a change in the defendant's detention status or release conditions, that party must notify opposing counsel, Chambers, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, and, if necessary, the U.S. Marshals Service of that request in advance of the proceeding. (mbcs, Chambers) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 10 Arraignment as to Warner Antonio Portillo (1) Count 1 held on 8/13/2019, Plea entered by Warner Antonio Portillo (1) GUILTY as to Count 1 of the Information before Judge Theodore D. Chuang.(Court Reporter: Lisa Bankins - 2B) (jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 11 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Warner Antonio Portillo ( # 1 Attachment A - Stipulation of Facts)(jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 12 -SEALED- PLEA SUPPLEMENT as to Warner Antonio Portillo (jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 13 Sentencing Order as to Warner Antonio Portillo. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 8/13/2019. (jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
08/13/2019 14 ORDER Setting Conditions of Release as to Warner Antonio Portillo. Signed by Judge Theodore D. Chuang on 8/13/2019. (jmhs, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 08/13/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: