TRENTON, NJ – A Toms River man was among 10 people indicted this week in a scheme where a former New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission clerk is accused of accepting thousands of dollars in payments in return for allowing more than 220 individuals to obtain permits and licenses without passing required exams, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino announced.

Mark Hingston, 55, of Toms River, a private security guard at the Lodi MVC Agency, allegedly obtained a commercial driver's permit and license without passing the required written exam, according to the news release from Porrino's office. Rodman Lora, the former clerk at the Lodi MVC, allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him, according to the charges. Rodman Lora, 39, of Ridgewood, N.Y., is accused of altering MVC driver records for more than 220 people between 2014 and 2016, enabling them to obtain various permits and licenses without having passed the mandatory written and/or driving exams. In return, Lora allegedly received cash payments that averaged more than $700 per license or permit, Porrino said.



The Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau obtained a state grand jury indictment charging Lora with the following crimes: second-degree official misconduct; second-degree pattern of official misconduct; second-degree conspiracy; second-degree computer criminal activity and third-degree tampering with public records or information. Lora faces five to 10 years in state prison, with a mandatory minimum period of five years of parole ineligibility. Hingston is charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree computer criminal activity, and third-degree tampering with public records or information, Porrino's office said.

"Corrupt motor vehicle clerks have the power to undermine public safety by issuing fraudulent documents to criminals seeking false identification, or as alleged here, by issuing driver's credentials to unqualified individuals," said Attorney General Porrino. "Lora sold out the trust placed in him as a motor vehicle clerk and now faces serious criminal charges, thanks to the vigilance of the MVC and the work of our detectives and attorneys." The others charged in the indictment, on counts of second-degree conspiracy, second-degree computer criminal activity, and third-degree tampering with public records:



Masood Ahmadi, 54, of Lake Hiawatha, the owner of Ideal Transportation, a school bus company that holds busing contracts with several schools and school districts in northern New Jersey. He allegedly recruited customers seeking commercial driver's licenses into the scheme. Most were relatives of his or were seeking employment as bus drivers with Ideal Transportation.

Luis Tiburcio, 46, of Passaic.

Carlos Vicuna, 36, of Elizabeth.

Rosa Vargas, 51, of Lodi, an MVC clerk, allegedly obtained a motorcycle permit without taking the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for her.

Wander Jimenez-Villanueva, 25, of Bogota, allegedly obtained a Class D driver's license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Jimenez-Villanueva previously had failed the exam on four occasions.

Angel Nunez-Lora, 27, of Parlin, allegedly obtained a commercial driver's license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Nunez-Lora previously had failed the exam on one occasion.

Jose Lora, 44, of Newark, who is Rodman Lora's brother, allegedly obtained a commercial driver's license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him.

Wilge Rojas, 55, of Clifton, allegedly obtained a commercial driver's license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Rojas previously had failed the exam on one occasion. The Division of Criminal Justice has a toll-free tip line 866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public can also log on to the Division of Criminal Justice webpage atwww.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.

