Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- A prosecutor told a federal jury today there was correlation between $24,500 deposited in the account of a former Division of Motor Vehicles clerk and an alleged conspiracy to produce driver's licenses sold to illegal immigrants and criminals for about $2,500 each.

"She was flush ... and we know where it comes from," prosecutor Richard W. Rose said of Dolores Rodriguez-LaFlamme in closing arguments to the U.S. District Court jury in Providence.

But Arthur Chatfield III, LaFlamme's defense lawyer, in his closing asked the jury to consider the role of LaFlamme's fellow former DMV clerk, Soraya Santiago, who testified at trial against LaFlamme as part of a plea agreement with the government.

Chatfield argued that someone could easily have taken LaFlamme's password and done the work to produce the licenses.

Chatfield was reprimanded during his closing argument repeatedly by Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi for saying or alluding to things not entered into the record.

"Stick with the evidence in the record, Mr. Chatfield," Lisi said.

LaFlamme, of Providence, faces one count of conspiracy, six counts of fraudulently producing identification documents affecting interstate commerce, and five counts of fraudulently using another person's identity. She pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on May 15.

The jury is slated to receive jury instructions from Lisi after lunch before getting the case.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

 Tags  crime driver's licenses illegal immigrants R.I. Division of Motor Vehicles

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