Wilmington man charged for making fake licenses

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man has been arrested and charged for making and distributing fake driver licenses.

According to a release from the NCDOT, 33-year-old Daniel Corey Benson was arrested and charged with one felony count of trafficking stolen identities and five felony counts of identity theft. Benson is accused of making 250 fake drivers licenses since October 2015.

Officials say, the investigation began in March in Mecklenburg County when a fake driver license was recovered from a store. The investigation uncovered hundreds of counterfeit licenses, used mostly by underage license holders. The probe involved 10 License and Theft Bureau inspectors, along with investigators with the U.S. Postal Service and Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security.

Months of investigation revealed the location in Wilmington and Benson’s identity. License and Theft Bureau Inspector W.L. Carswell and Inspector A. J. Pinney, both based in NCDMV’s Huntersville office, say the operation as having advanced document making equipment, including. computers, a laptop, laser precision cutting device, card stock, fake state seals, and additional paraphernalia. All of the equipment was taken. Including 30 completed fraudulent North Carolina driver licenses. The licenses were issues to people in 14 North Carolina cities and people in Texas, Minnesota, and South Carolina.

Investigators say they are now shifting their focus to people who own the fake licenses.

DMV Commissioner Kelly J. Thomas said, “Eliminating these operations helps protect hundreds of North Carolina citizens and their identities, and this makes it a priority for NCDMV and the License and Theft Bureau.”

Benson is being held in the New Hanover County Jail on a $50,000 secure bond. Inspectors say additional charges are probable and pending further investigation.