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More people could face prosecution for driver’s licensing fraud in addition to the two people who have already pleaded guilty, according to federal court records.
Paige Teruya, 47, a driver’s licensing clerk at the city’s satellite city hall on Dillingham Boulevard in Kapalama, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one count of fraud for producing a Hawaii driver’s license for an illegal alien who had not taken or passed a written or driving test nor presented valid identification documents.
The city said Teruya remains an employee, but cannot comment further about her status because of a pending personnel matter.
Teruya said she has been a licensing clerk for five years.
In Chan Park, a 53-year-old driving instructor, pleaded guilty last month to the same charge.
Teruya said Park would let her know when his family was going to the satellite city hall and that she produced the fraudulent driver’s license "to help out his family and to help him."
Teruya and Park had been charged with conspiracy and fraud in connection with the production of three Hawaii driver’s licenses in December 2010 and January 2011.
The prosecutor promised to drop three of the four charges Teruya and Park were facing in return for their guilty pleas and their continued cooperation, according to the terms of their plea agreements.
The government says its investigation into driver licensing fraud continues.
Park and Teruya each face maximum 15-year prison terms when they are sentenced in May and June, respectively. However, the prosecutor may recommend sentencing breaks for them if their cooperation provides the government substantial assistance.