DMV employee admits mail fraud

Latonya Young, 44, an employee of the Erie County Clerk’s Office, who was assigned to work at the state Department of Motor Vehicles, pleaded guilty Friday to mail fraud, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine of $250,000 or both.

Young, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito Jr., worked as a representative at the NYS DMV and was authorized to conduct transactions, having access to a its database and computer system of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registration and title records.

Between June 13, 2012, and Aug. 30, 2012, Young unlawfully processed fraudulent duplicate title applications for a person working with the government in return for cash payments totaling $725. In processing the fraudulent documents, the defendant unlawfully forged the name of the person listed on the duplicate title applications.

Young also admitted that in 2010, she assisted another in amending a New York license to create a fake identification to enable an under-aged person to get alcohol.

Young is scheduled to be sentenced on April 8 before Chief U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny.