A city employee and a driving instructor conspired to create at least three fraudulent driver’s licenses that were sold to foreign nationals who were in the United States illegally, according to an indictment returned Wednesday by a federal grand jury.
Chan Park, 53, of Honolulu and Paige Teruya, 47, of Waipahu were named in the indictment. Arraignment has been set for Nov. 22.
U.S. attorneys said Park is a driving instructor who conspired with Teruya, a clerk at the Dillingham office of the city Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing, to produce the unauthorized licenses.
Both were charged with producing the licenses on three separate occasions as well as conspiring to commit fraud.
The indictment said driver’s licenses were produced illegally for three people, all of them Korean nationals living in the United States illegally. Two of the clients paid $2,000 each, while the third paid $5,000, the indictment said.
Park, a driving instructor for about 20 years, would provide biographical information about clients to Teruya, who would input the data into the state licensing system and then inform Park about the best time to bring in the clients to take photos and receive their licenses, court documents said.
The incidents took place from Dec. 21, 2010, to Jan. 26, 2011.
It is unclear whether other licenses were produced or whether others were involved in the scheme. But during the period of the alleged offenses, according to the indictment, "Park collected the proceeds of the fraudulent identification documents in creating (Hawaii driver’s licenses) and gave such proceeds to others involved in the conspiracy."
If convicted, Park and Teruya each face up to five years on the conspiracy charge and up to 15 years on the other three charges. They would also face possible fines of up to $250,000.
Arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 22.
City spokeswoman Louise Kim McCoy confirmed that Teruya has been employed as a driver’s licensing clerk in the Driver’s Licensing Branch, part of the Division of Motor Vehicles, Licensing and Permits, since Aug. 1, 2006.
Kim McCoy declined to answer other questions regarding the case. "It would be inappropriate for the city to comment at this time."
