Fake driver's license scheme

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced today that a Washington County judge has ordered an out-of-state company that sold fake international driver’s licenses to stop the practice in Arkansas and pay the State $530,165.

McDaniel filed suit against Virginia-based Beraca Publishing, Inc., in November 2010, accusing the company of selling what it called “International Driver’s Licenses” or “U.S. ID Cards” to Arkansas consumers. The cards appear to be official, but cannot be used as legal identification.

Washington County Circuit Judge Kim Smith on Friday granted McDaniel’s motion for summary judgment against Beraca Publishing and its owner, Miguel Lazarte. Smith ordered the defendants to pay $520,000 in civil penalties and an additional $10,165 for attorneys fees and costs. The defendants were ordered to cease selling the ID cards and to stop advertising the cards for sale in Arkansas.

“We are grateful for the Court’s judgment against this company and its owner, who were deliberately misleading Arkansas consumers into believing their identification cards were acceptable as driver’s licenses or government-recognized identification,” McDaniel said. “The defendants, through their deceptive practices and advertisements, targeted consumers who might not be familiar with official ID cards.”

Beraca advertised the fraudulent driver’s licenses on the Internet and in a periodical distributed throughout the United States in Hispanic communities. The advertisements falsely claimed that the ID cards were valid in all 50 states. The “International Driver’s License” was sold for $100 each and ID cards were $40 each.

Judge Smith found that Beraca and Lazarte’s actions violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.s.