U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of New York Jay Clayton and FBI Assistant Director In Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. announced the arrests of 11 defendants in connection with an alleged multimillion-dollar scheme involving fraudulently obtained temporary license plates used to evade tolls, parking tickets and traffic violations.
The defendants are charged in a five-count indictment that includes wire fraud and access device fraud. All 11 were arrested between May 19 and May 20, 2026.
Nine of the defendants are expected to appear in White Plains Federal Court. Two others are scheduled for initial appearances in federal courts in North Carolina and Florida.
Alleged scheme involved sham dealerships
According to the indictment filed May 13, 2026, the defendants allegedly created sham auto dealerships to generate more than 100,000 fraudulent temporary tags, which were then sold for $50 to $250 each.
Authorities said the tags were used to avoid paying tolls, parking fines and other vehicle-related fees across New York City and New York State.
Officials estimate the scheme resulted in about $15 million in unpaid tolls and violations, including $11.8 million in New York City parking and traffic tickets and $3.1 million in unpaid E-ZPass tolls.
Investigators also said the fraudulent tags were linked to thousands of complaints and at least 1,200 incidents reported to the NYPD, including six homicides.
Officials say scheme targeted New York revenue
“For over five years, the defendants allegedly conspired to use fraudulently obtained temporary license plates, or ‘Temp Tags,’ to avoid fees, tolls and parking traffic tickets,” Clayton said. “Their schemes deprived New York State and New York City of millions of dollars in revenue.”
Barnacle said investigators uncovered extensive misuse of temporary registrations and said law enforcement will continue targeting fraud schemes affecting public systems.
Defendants charged in federal indictment
The following defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud:
Felix Dejesus Jimenez, 62, of Englewood, N.J.; Julio Frias, 61, of Teaneck, N.J.; Bladimir Tomas Valdez, 30, of Manhattan; Ramon Eligio Dejesus Peralta, 52, of Miami; Alba Nellys Rodriguez Gonzalez, 25, of Bergenfield, N.J.; Jefrey Raphel Herrera Espinal, 26, of Yonkers; Sammy Rodriguez Francisco, 25, of Yonkers; Xavier Rodriguez Francisco, 23, of Waterbury, Conn.; Clarisa Rodriguez Francisco, 27, of Yonkers; Cindy Rey, 28, of Hazleton, Pa.; and Luciano Moises Estrella, 42, of West Milford, N.J.
Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years, and access device fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Prosecution and investigation
Officials praised investigators from the FBI New York Field Office, Westchester County Resident Agency, Nypd, New York State Police, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Special Investigations Unit and the Georgia Department Of Revenue Office Of Special Investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District Of New York, White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Sidransky, Benjamin Klein, Stephanie Simon and Daniel Listwa are handling the case.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 11 arrested in alleged $15M fake license plate scheme across NY
Reporting by New York Connect Team, USA Today Network / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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