PHOENIX – Arizona Department of Transportation detectives have arrested a Chandler resident whose nursing license was revoked for insurance fraud after she allegedly used a stolen identity to try and obtain a new nursing license.

Laura Lynn Bell, 40, used a falsified Arizona driver license and a Superior Court name change form to petition her alma mater, the University of South Alabama, to change the name on her official transcripts to another person’s name in an attempt to get a new nursing license.

The university became suspicious of Bell’s request and contacted the Arizona State Board of Nursing, which in turn contacted the Arizona Department of Insurance, which brought the original insurance fraud case against her. Those agencies requested assistance from ADOT’s Office of Inspector General since a forged credential was involved.

When ADOT detectives served a warrant at Bell’s home on Dec. 12, they found forged court documents and other papers listing the other individual’s name. They also obtained a forged driver license created on Bell’s computer.

Bell was arrested and booked at the Fourth Avenue Jail on new counts of forgery and identity fraud in addition to the insurance fraud case previously brought against her.

PHOENIX – A Sahuarita resident, who allegedly used two stolen identities to maintain Arizona driver licenses, was revealed to have an outstanding FBI felony warrant and has been charged with five counts of forgery thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

In the course of their investigation, detectives with ADOT’s Office of Inspector General learned that Sandro Tentory, 43, had an outstanding FBI felony warrant for weapons violations and a history of violence including aggravated assault and the sale of drugs. According to FBI files, Tentory was a documented gang member of the Chicago-based “Maniac Latin Disciples.”

The case began when ADOT’s facial recognition system, including review by FBI-trained personnel, found two profiles in the system with different names and dates of birth but photos of the same individual. An investigation by ADOT detectives found that Tentory had applied for two Arizona driver licenses using stolen information from two individuals living in Illinois and had maintained those IDs for the past 13 years.

Detectives apprehended Tentory on June 7 while serving a search warrant at the Sahuarita address listed on his most recent driver license application, arresting him on counts of forgery and the felony warrant. He was booked at the Pima County Jail.

Evidence recovered at the scene consisted of several fraudulent ID cards, credit cards, loan documents and other documents obtained using the fraudulent IDs.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

PHOENIX – A Glendale resident who allegedly used his brother’s identity to apply for an Arizona driver license was revealed to have a felony warrant out of Illinois and has been charged with forgery thanks to Arizona Department of Transportation detectives’ use of facial recognition training and technology.

In late February, Luis Castro, 32, applied for an Arizona driver license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of his brother at the Glendale MVD office.

ADOT’s facial recognition system found that Castro’s photo did not match the previous photo under his brother’s profile. Detectives, who have FBI training in facial recognition, confirmed this was the case and opened an investigation.

ADOT’s investigation found that Castro’s photo matched a booking photo from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois. Digging further, detectives found that Castro had an extraditable felony warrant out of Cook County for aggravated assault, aggravated robbery and prohibited possessor of firearms.

Confirming that fraud had taken place, OIG canceled the permanent credential. When Castro called MVD looking for his driver license that hadn’t shown up in the mail, detectives made arrangements with him to meet at the West Phoenix MVD office on April 17 where Castro believed he was picking up the fraudulent credential.

ADOT detectives arrested Castro in the parking lot on counts of forgery and the felony warrant out of Illinois. He was booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Fourth Avenue Jail.

This case is one more example of how facial recognition technology used by ADOT’s Office of Inspector General protects Arizonans’ identities and helps prevent fraud involving state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.