Executive Summary
- Federal Indictment: Five Louisville residents face charges for a scheme to issue illegal driver’s licenses.
- Bribery Allegations: Defendants allegedly accepted kickbacks ranging from $200 to $1,500 to bypass testing.
- System Compromise: Conspirators are accused of altering government databases to facilitate the fraud.
- Severe Penalties: If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison with no possibility of parole.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal grand jury in the Western District of Kentucky has indicted five Louisville residents on charges stemming from a bribery and fraud conspiracy designed to illegally issue driver’s licenses. According to the indictment unsealed by U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner, the scheme involved altering government records to bypass testing requirements for non-U.S. citizens.
Federal prosecutors allege that the five defendants—Donnita Wilson, 32; Aariel Matthews, 27; Raul Tellez Ojeda, 32; Lazaro Alejandro Castello Rojas, 37; and Robert Danger Correa, 41—accepted cash payments ranging from $200 to $1,500. Court documents state that these payments were collected from legally present non-U.S. citizens seeking driver’s licenses. In exchange for the kickbacks, the conspirators allegedly promised to expedite the licensing process and circumvent mandatory testing protocols.
Investigators with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Kentucky State Police reported that members of the group altered data within government databases. This manipulation allegedly allowed applicants to bypass necessary steps, resulting in the issuance of invalid licenses. The charges brought against the group include mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, unlawful production of identification documents, and money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Bumgarner emphasized the gravity of the allegations in a statement, noting that the indictment represents the culmination of an investigation into a scheme to illegally circumvent Kentucky’s licensing process. Prosecutors argued that proper vetting is essential for protecting roadway safety and maintaining the integrity of state-issued identification.
Federal Sentencing and Procedural Context
The indictment signals a significant federal crackdown on public corruption and identity document fraud. Under federal sentencing guidelines, each count of mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, and money laundering carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Unlike state systems, the federal justice system does not offer parole, meaning convicted defendants serve nearly the entirety of their handed-down sentences. Several defendants made their initial court appearance on February 9, 2026. It is important to note that all individuals named in the indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
