News Releases

For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 17, 2012

On March 12, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a Montgomery County Police detective conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of Georgia Avenue and International Drive in Silver Spring. It was determined that the driver of the vehicle, now identified as Jose Luis Ventura, had a warrant for his arrest for failure to appear in court on a traffic citation. During the arrest, officers discovered that Ventura was in possession of fake identification cards in his name, had a handgun in his vehicle, and also possessed numerous photocopies of other persons' passports and personal paperwork from various states. Ventura was transported to the Central

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Processing Unit (CPU) on the outstanding traffic warrant.

Detectives continued to investigate the documents found in Ventura’s vehicle. During the investigation, detectives received information that individuals had been victims of a theft scheme involving Jose Ventura and his girlfriend, now identified as Desiree Lauren Alvarado. A search warrant was executed at a residence where Ventura was known to stay. Detectives discovered photocopies of people’s personal documents in that residence, to include Internal Revenue Service (IRS) papers, passports, and tax records. Further investigation by detectives revealed that Ventura would target Hispanic individuals and would tell them that he could legally acquire Maryland driver licenses because he knew someone at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Ventura would charge the victims a price of approximately $1,500 to $1,800 each, and would state that he needed the victims to solicit more people to purchase licenses. Ventura would have the victims send him photocopies of personal documents. Alvarado, a co-conspirator, would drive and accompany Ventura to meet victims and would make arrangements with victims over the phone.

Ventura would arrange to meet the victims at the MVA in Gaithersburg (15 Metropolitan Grove Road) to supposedly obtain the driver licenses. On the planned date, victims would drive in a van together and meet Ventura at the MVA. The group would give Ventura an envelope containing money and he would state he was going into the MVA and would return with licenses. Ventura would then leave the MVA with the victims’ money. The victims had no further contact with Ventura or Alvarado.

At this time, detectives have identified 14 victims that met Ventura at the MVA on March 19 and have identified one victim who met Ventura at the MVA on January 9. In total, Ventura received approximately $24,200 from the 15 identified victims.

On April 18 and April 27, Jose Luis Ventura, age 33, of an unconfirmed address, was arrested on the strength of arrest warrants and charged criminally with charges to include: transporting a handgun in a vehicle, three counts of possession of a false government identification document, 14 counts of theft $1,000 to under $10,000, and two counts of theft scheme $10,000 to under $100,000. Ventura was also issued traffic citations to include: driving without a license and display of a fictitious license. On April 13 and April 27, Desiree Lauren Alvarado, age 28, of the 17800 block of Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg, was arrested on the strength of arrest warrants and charged criminally with charges to include: transporting a handgun in a vehicle, one count of theft scheme $10,000 to under $100,000, two counts of conspiracy to commit theft scheme $10,000 to under $100,000, and 14 counts of conspiracy to commit theft $1,000 to under $10,000.

Based on victims’ accounts of the incidents, the police department believes there are more victims of Ventura and Alvarado’s scam who have not come forward. Detectives urge people who believe they have been victimized by Alvarado and Ventura in Montgomery County to please call Blanca Kling, Hispanic Liaison with the (Police) Public Information Office at: 240-773-5036.