Knoxville couple sentenced for producing more than 100 fake IDs at driver service centers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A Knoxville couple was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to producing more than 100 fake driver's licenses and identification cards for people not qualified to receive them, according to the Department of Justice .

The DOJ said Cheryl Huff, 49, was a district director for the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, which issues driver's licenses and identification cards at several Tennessee driver service centers. It managed and oversaw the Greater Knoxville area and had the authority to issue licenses and identification cards.

Previous coverage: Homeland Security director and husband plead guilty to issuing Tennessee driver's licenses

Mario Paz-Mejia, 51, who was married to Huff, recruited people who were neither U.S. citizens nor Tennessee residents and who wanted a Tennessee driver's license or identification card, according to the DOJ. He told his clients he could get a driver's license or ID card for $2,500.

Additionally, officials said Paz-Mejia helped his clients obtain false citizenship and residency documents, both of which are requirements for a Tennessee driver's license.

Paz-Mejia then worked with Huff to obtain clients' respective driver's licenses or ID cards, including a June 2021 example in which Paz-Mejia sent Huff's name, date of birth, and personal information used on fake ID documents, asking Huff to “Please check this,” according to the DOJ. Huff then responded: “All of that is not in the record. They are good.”

In total, more than 100 driving licenses and identity cards were produced.

On Friday, Huff was sentenced to 37 months in prison and Paz-Mejia was sentenced to 30 months. Their two sentences are followed by one year of supervised release.

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