Worker allegedly overstayed, got her driver’s license through fraud

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations arrested last week an alleged overstaying Chinese national who presented a CNMI driver’s license that she allegedly obtained through fraud.

Dingpin Kan was arrested on a charge of presenting a fraudulently obtained identification document to law enforcement personnel.

HSI special agent David West stated that Kan came to the attention of federal authorities last Wednesday when she presented a CNMI driver’s license to CNMI Customs inspection at the Saipan airport. Kan had gone the Port of Saipan to clear a cargo container that was recently shipped to the Saipan seaport from China.

The defendant paid the dues as the consignee for the shipment and the cargo container was held for inspection.

At the CNMI Customs inspection area, Customs inspector Vicente Sablan asked her for identification, and she presented a CNMI driver’s license. Sablan allowed Kan to proceed into the cargo area of the seaport.

After clearing the cargo container, Kan was then interviewed by a Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force officer, during which Kan allegedly informed the officer that she is a citizen of China and has no legal immigration status.

West said that a check with HSI confirmed that Kan has no immigration status and that the driver’s license she had presented to Customs was obtained fraudulently.

West said that Bureau of Motor Vehicle informed an HSI Task Force officer that there was no information in the BMV system regarding that driver’s license and that it was not issued by BMV.

The officer then notified DHS about the incident. At the HSI office, Kan was advised of her constitutional rights.

West said that, according to Kan, she came to the CNMI to work in 1998 and never obtained legal immigration status after U.S. immigration laws were enacted in the CNMI.

West said Kan admitted that she knew that she has no legal immigration status.

Kan claimed that she obtained her driver’s license in 2013 and renewed it sometime in 2016 at the BMV.

West said the defendant stated that her driver’s license was expired and knew she could not renew it because she did not have any legal immigration status. The defendant learned that a friend could get her a new license for $500.

In November 2019, as allegedly directed by the friend, Kan sent a copy of her passport with Kan’s handwritten signature, a copy of her social security card, a passport photo, her expired driver’s license, and $500.

Approximately three to four days later, Kan received her new driver’s license, showing it was issued on Nov. 19, 2019. Kan stated her new license had the same photo and signature that she had sent to her friend.