A federal grand jury has indicted five Louisville residents for their alleged roles in a scheme to unlawfully issue Kentucky driver’s licenses in exchange for cash payments.

According to a February 10 release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, the defendants face charges including mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, unlawful production of identification documents, and money-laundering conspiracy.

Those charged include Donnita Wilson, 32; Aariel Matthews, 27; Lazaro Alejandro Castello Rojas, 37; Robert Danger Correa, 41; and one additional individual who has not yet been arrested. Wilson and Matthews previously worked at the Nia Center Licensing Branch in Louisville. Prosecutors allege Rojas and Correa recruited and escorted noncitizen applicants to appointments at the branch.

The indictment states that the defendants solicited illegal fees ranging from $200 to $1,500, promising expedited service, the ability to skip lines, and the avoidance of testing requirements. Prosecutors allege that applicants were led to believe the process was lawful.

Federal authorities emphasized that the individuals who received the licenses were legally present, non-U.S. citizens but had not completed required procedures to demonstrate their qualifications to drive.

U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said the alleged scheme circumvented Kentucky’s licensing safeguards and resulted in invalid licenses being issued. He stated that proper vetting is necessary to protect roadway safety and ensure the legitimacy of state-issued identification.

The investigation began after Melissa Moorman, a former clerk at the Louisville branch, reported suspected misconduct in October 2024. Moorman has alleged that co-workers used fraudulent Social Security cards and birth certificates and bypassed Homeland Security background checks. She also claimed she was terminated shortly after raising concerns.

In court filings, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Moorman was dismissed for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons unrelated to whistleblowing.

Separately, the governor’s office cited a cabinet review that identified irregularities in credential applications, leading to the revocation of 1,985 licenses and an immediate referral to law enforcement.

Attorneys for several of the defendants and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet did not respond to requests for comment. The case remains ongoing.