The investigation concerning illegal immigrants purchasing
titles, registrations and plates from the Elbert County Motor
Vehicle Office continues. Three people were taken into custody two
weeks ago by the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.
False identification and proof of insurance were presented to
the Motor Vehicle clerk on Feb. 25, which the clerk accepted and
processed. Clerk and Recorder Amy Fordyce said the Motor Vehicle
Office is not required to verify identifications and proof of
insurances to ensure that the information presented is
accurate.
“When there are suspicions the [motor vehicle] clerk will
collect all documents and turn them over to the Department of
Revenue for investigation,” Fordyce said.
The fees collected from the illegal immigrants’ purchases were
given to the Department of Revenue.
Fordyce said since the arrests, Motor Vehicle Office employees
have been working with Lt. Michelle Mative from the Elbert County
Sheriff’s Office learning what to look for if presented with false
identification. Fordyce sad the current employees of the Elbert
County Clerk and Recorder’s Office are not the focus of the
investigation and will continue to cooperate with the Department of
Revenue and the sheriff’s office until the conclusion of the
investigation.
“I believe we are not the only [Motor Vehicle] office in the
state being investigated for this,” Fordyce said.
