US official of Chinese nationality convicted in scheme to obtain driver's licenses for illegal immigrants

A Chinese national along with a US government official were convicted for their roles in a scheme to provide driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, the attorney for the districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced Monday.

Juana Cabrera Leon Guerrero, a US citizen and head of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the Northern Mariana Islands (BMV), and Yongde “Ivan” Li, a citizen of chinaboth were convicted as part of the scheme, which involved illegal immigrants paying a “street broker” up to $1,700 for a new driver's license and $300 for a renewal. seconds at the US Attorney's office. He paid Guerrero and others $500 in cash payments for the illegal transactions, while also providing free meals and taxi services.

Leon Guerrero was sentenced to 60 months in prison, ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and a $100 special assessment fee, and serve three years of supervised release after incarceration. Li was sentenced to 10 months in prison, ordered to pay $200 in special assessment fees, complete 50 hours of community service in lieu of a fine and serve five years of supervised release after incarceration.

“This scheme created a substantial risk to public safety,” U.S. Attorney Shawn N. Anderson said in a statement Monday. “Licensing requirements help reduce the risk of harm to other drivers and pedestrians on our roads. We expect a higher standard of conduct from public officials. This case sends a strong message of accountability.”

The “street runners” submitted fraudulent immigration documents to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) with the help of Guerrero, who allowed Li to submit these applications at least 50 times between January 2020 and December of 2022, according to the US Attorney's office. Guerrero also directed at least five BMV employees to help Li obtain the licenses.

“The FBI will not condone government workers who use their position of trust for their own illicit gain,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill said in a statement Monday. “This sentence should serve as a warning to others that the FBI will investigate these types of cases to the fullest extent of the law.”

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