3 jailed for selling fradulent IDs

CLEVELAND - Three people from Cleveland were sentenced to jail Thursday for fraud, involving illegally obtained Ohio driver’s licenses and other ID cards.

Vitaly Fedorchuk, 40, was identified as the leader of the Ukrainian criminal organization that worked to bring international foreigners to Cleveland and help them get a real driver’s license for a fee, according to the Department of Justice.

Detectives said that the licenses were allegedly issued by Parma Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Registrar Sonya Hilaszek, 46.

Co-conspirator Pavlo Mostranskyy, 46, was also sentenced for allegedly acting as a middle-man to bring foreign nationals to Cleveland, authorities said.

FBI agents began their investigation in December 2007 when suspicions arose regarding members of the Cleveland Ukrainian community. In August 2008, an undercover agent was able to get a license for $3,000 from the criminal organization. Detectives believe the group has operated for at least four years, charging between $1,500 and $3,000 for driver's licenses and state identification cards, and using either fraudulent documentation or none at all.

Additional members of the organization are believed to be based in several cities throughout the United States.

The investigation also connected the organization to counterparts in Ukraine, who detectives said worked with the Cleveland group to allegedly sell fraudulent, non-immigrant visas for $12,000. Detectives believe the visas were obtained through Ukrainian employees of the United States Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. Seven members of the Ukraine-based organization, including two Embassy employees, were officially detained Thursday in Ukraine.

Fedorchuck was sentenced to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud. Hilaszek and Mostranskyy both received 33 months.

A total of 16 people associated with the group have been found guilty, while two others that have been charged remain at large.