DMV software catches two identity thieves

Two people have been charged with identity theft after facial recognition software purchased as part of the Real ID program caught them.

Wesley Boyd, 52, of Las Vegas has had a Nevada identification card under a false name since 2003, according to Department of Motor Vehicle officials. The facial recognition program flagged his records after he was photographed for a change in his real license earlier this year. In addition, Boyd faces check fraud charges issued by Clark County under his phony name.

Joseph Franklin Flint, 63, of Las Vegas, also was discovered by the computer system. He has held a commercial driver's license under a false name since 2006 and worked as a driver in Las Vegas. His records were discovered when he applied for a non-commercial instruction permit under his real name.

The Veterans Administration also is pursuing an investigation of Flint after investigators found he has been collecting full disability benefits from the VA during his employment.

They were among 21 persons arrested in May by officers of the Fraud Unit.

"People engage in identity theft and fraud in order to commit other types of offenses," said Thomas Newsome, a sergeant with the DMV compliance enforcement division. "We almost always end up solving other crimes when we arrest an ID fraud suspect."

In addition to the arrests, DMV canceled 41 fraudulent records during May and impounded one stolen vehicle.

Boyd has been charged with identity theft and felony check fraud. Flint has been booked on charges of possessing of personal identifying information to establish a false identity, forgery, unlawful use of a license and burglary.