In the Wake of Scandal, State Audit Says License Office Performance is 'Good'
By: William Seay
Updated: November 8, 2012
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) It was a multimillion dollar fraud scheme used to create some 3,500 false identification documents for illegal aliens.
In the wake of a conspiracy inside its office, the Missouri State Auditor has released his findings on the activity within the St. Joseph Contract License Office.
"We were very much concerned with it, and anything that we could do or offer our assistance for we were glad to do," recalls Commander Jim Connors from the St. Joseph Police Department. "In fact we had officers who were working that investigation for the whole time it was going on."
Despite the seriousness of the charges on those involved, the audit seems to absolve office workers from responsibility.
The audit says "The illegal activity appears to have occurred due to a conspiracy rather than a lack of internal control policies and procedures within the License Office."
It goes to rate the facility's performance as "Good."
Since the federal indictment, License Office employees have undergone training offered by local law enforcement.
"[It helps] to recognize the difference between fake driver's licenses, fake passports, things like that," Commander Connors said. "People make a lot of good copies, but there are items worked into those government documents that can tell you, if you're trained, which are fake and which aren't."
In its response to the Department of Revenue, the St. Joseph License Office says they "Will continue to work law enforcement officials in regards to ongoing investigations, and will continue its cooperation to prevent any future re-occurrences."
Despite the audit coming from the State Auditor, the License Office is not owned or operated by the State of Missouri.
In the wake of a conspiracy inside its office, the Missouri State Auditor has released his findings on the activity within the St. Joseph Contract License Office.
"We were very much concerned with it, and anything that we could do or offer our assistance for we were glad to do," recalls Commander Jim Connors from the St. Joseph Police Department. "In fact we had officers who were working that investigation for the whole time it was going on."
Despite the seriousness of the charges on those involved, the audit seems to absolve office workers from responsibility.
The audit says "The illegal activity appears to have occurred due to a conspiracy rather than a lack of internal control policies and procedures within the License Office."
It goes to rate the facility's performance as "Good."
Since the federal indictment, License Office employees have undergone training offered by local law enforcement.
"[It helps] to recognize the difference between fake driver's licenses, fake passports, things like that," Commander Connors said. "People make a lot of good copies, but there are items worked into those government documents that can tell you, if you're trained, which are fake and which aren't."
In its response to the Department of Revenue, the St. Joseph License Office says they "Will continue to work law enforcement officials in regards to ongoing investigations, and will continue its cooperation to prevent any future re-occurrences."
Despite the audit coming from the State Auditor, the License Office is not owned or operated by the State of Missouri.
