Feds seek prison time for scammer who helped illegal immigrants get driver licenses

Federal prosecutors in Massachusetts have requested a 16-month prison sentence for Gabriel Nascimenta DeAndrade, a key figure in a large-scale document fraud ring that systematically helped undocumented immigrants illegally obtain driver's licenses by taking permit tests on their behalf. The sentencing memorandum was filed on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, as part of an ongoing crackdown on operations that exploit state licensing systems to provide false identification to individuals residing in the country without legal status. The sophisticated, Massachusetts-based scheme operated from at least 2019 to 2023, primarily targeting New York's licensing system because it permitted undocumented immigrants to apply. The ring provided a comprehensive fraudulent service package, including counterfeit utility bills, forged driver's education certificates, and falsified foreign passports to establish false residency and identity. Most notably, they employed deceptive camera techniques—using pre-taken photos of clients—to bypass New York's online test proctoring system, allowing the scammers themselves to take the written exams. Prosecutors revealed the operation processed over 1,000 applications, successfully securing licenses for more than 600 individuals, predominantly residents of Massachusetts, and charged over $1,000 per license. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O'Shea argued for the substantial sentence, emphasizing the need for deterrence in what he described as a 'massive document fraud ring' contributing to a broader national problem of counterfeit identification mills. Defense attorney Syrie Fried requested leniency, citing DeAndrade's 449 days already served—including 317 days in harsh Peruvian detention after he fled the U.S.—and arguing the scheme aimed merely to help immigrants work, not facilitate more serious crimes. The case came to light after a 2024 traffic stop uncovered a shoebox containing 50 newly issued New York licenses, leading to multiple indictments. With Massachusetts changing its law in 2023 to allow licenses for undocumented immigrants, such operations have adapted to target remaining restrictive states, highlighting ongoing tensions between state immigration policies and federal enforcement.