Federal authorities busted an identity fraud ring based in New York City Tuesday. Federal agents arrested 22 people: 15 customers and seven others who allegedly ran the operation. The key to providing a package of documents was obtaining real New York State licenses and stealing identities of real people.

“They charged customers between $7,000 to $10,000 for each fraudulent identification package. It took in upwards of $1 million in cash over a three-year period and it involved the bribery of two DMV workers in two different cities,” said US Attorney Preet Bharara.

The alleged ring-leader was Wilch Dewalt, also known as “License Man,” who is said to have bribed DMV worker Glenda Hinton to check records at a Manhattan office, and Yonkers DMV worker Robin Jones-Woodson to obtain real licenses.

Officials said it shows how important a driver’s license can be for getting onto a domestic flight, or for obtaining a U.S. passport. “The most important and powerful document in the United States,” said John Morton, Asst. Sec. of Homeland Security.

New York’s DMV commissioner said remedies were already in place, with a state-wide photo comparison system to detect if someone with an existing license were to apply for another.

People who believe they may be victims of identity theft should check the website of the Federal Trade Commission. You can also have your credit rating checked with any one of several credit bureaus that can be found on line.

(Source: WCBSTV)