A joint operation led by the Bay County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), in collaboration with state and federal agencies, has dismantled a criminal network involved in fraudulent issuance of driver's licenses in Florida, involving DMV employees, private intermediaries, and the company CubaMax, based in the Panama City area.
According to the information published on Facebook, the investigation began on May 20, 2025, when suspicious transactions linked to the Bay County Tax Collector's Office were detected, which operates on behalf of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
The authorities discovered that at least two state employees were issuing driver's licenses without the applicants meeting the legal requirements, such as written tests and practical exams.
How the scheme operated
The applicants, coming from various locations in Florida, traveled to Bay County to obtain fraudulent licenses.
The procedures were handled through intermediaries who charged for the service and distributed payments to the involved public employees, using methods like Cash App.
The scheme was driven from the offices of CubaMax, an organization that, according to authorities, served as a reference for clients interested in obtaining licenses outside of the law.
Arrested individuals
DMV Employees:
Bancelie Velazco (37 years old) – 9 counts of fraudulent issuance of licenses and 9 counts of official misconduct.
Demetrius Smith II (30 years old) – 8 charges for fraudulent issuance and 8 for official misconduct.
$120,000 in cash was seized, allegedly the proceeds of illegal activity.
CubaMax and associates:
Niurbis Rosales (37) – Owner of CubaMax; facing 24 charges for being the main perpetrator in the fraudulent issuance and misconduct in office.
Leonardo Gutiérrez (32) – 7 charges in both offenses.
Hung Du (58) - 36 charges.
Isbrieta Parra (44) – 7 charges.
Zoila González-Peña (38) – 12 charges.
An employee of CubaMax whose identity has not been revealed would also be involved.
Beneficiaries:
Mirna Fernández (34) – arrested for illegal possession of a license; she is believed to have paid for fraudulent exam approval.
CubaMax under scrutiny
CubaMax, a company that provides immigration documentation and logistics services related to the Cuban community, was raided by authorities in search of evidence. The business operated in Callaway (Bay County) and is said to have served as a platform for directing clients towards illegal licensing schemes.
Current status of the case
The investigation remains active. Authorities are analyzing physical evidence and electronic transactions, and more arrests are expected in the coming days. The scale of the fraud suggests a coordinated network at the state level, with potential additional ramifications.
It will soon be illegal to sell appointments for driver's licenses throughout Florida
Florida authorities have begun to take concrete measures to prohibit the sale of appointments at the offices responsible for issuing driver's licenses, a practice that has caused frustration, long waits, and abuses for thousands of residents for years.
On June 5, the governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 961, which makes it a crime to sell appointments for services at the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
The law will come into effect on July 1, 2026, and includes criminal penalties, including possible jail sentences for those who resell or trade these spaces.
Local ordinances are already in progress
While state legislation comes into effect, several counties have already taken action on their own. The most recent is Broward, where the County Commission unanimously approved Ordinance 2025-20, which prohibits advertising, selling, or marketing appointments for public services related to driver's licenses, according to Local 10 News.
According to the Broward Tax Collector's Office, those who violate this regulation at the local level face a fine of $250 for the first offense and $500 for repeat offenses.
The new wave of regulations addresses a real problem: individuals hoarding free appointments for services at the DMV and then reselling them online for as much as $250 each, to the detriment of citizens who legitimately needed the service.
At the beginning of this year, Miami-Dade County also adopted a similar ordinance after a large-scale appointment reselling network was uncovered, harming thousands of individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Driver's License Fraud in Bay County and Measures Against Appointment Sales in Florida
What is the driver's license fraud dismantled in Bay County?
The fraud involved the illegal issuance of driver's licenses without the applicants meeting legal requirements, such as written exams and practical tests. Employees of the DMV and the company CubaMax were involved in this illicit activity.
How did the fraud scheme operate in CubaMax?
The scheme operated through intermediaries who managed fraudulent licenses in exchange for payments. CubaMax served as a reference for clients interested in obtaining licenses outside the law, facilitating illegal procedures from its offices.
What measures are being taken in Florida to prevent the sale of appointments for driver's licenses?
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Bill 961 that bans the sale of appointments for DMV transactions, establishing criminal penalties for those who resell appointments. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026, and several counties have already implemented local ordinances that impose fines on offenders.
What are the legal consequences for those involved in the license fraud in Bay County?
The defendants face multiple charges for fraudulent issuance of licenses and official misconduct. Arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active, anticipating more arrests in the coming days.
Filed under: