100+ Fake Virginia Licenses Obtained, 3 Get Jobs At Metro

An Alexandria address was used in many of the fraudulent driver’s license applications. A few fraudulent licenses led to Metro driver jobs.

Jun 6, 2024 9:46 am EDT | Updated Jun 6, 2024 9:50 am EDT

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A scheme involving over 100 phony Virginia driver’s licenses obtained by people who were ineligible led to three people getting jobs as Metro drivers, according to federal prosecutors.

Ashya Janai Harley, 30, of Washington, pleaded guilty in Virginia federal court Wednesday to aiding and abetting the unlawful production of identification documents. According to prosecutors, Harley charged people hundreds of dollars to fraudulently obtain Virginia driver’s licenses for which they did not qualify.

Subscribe

Court documents indicate she helped obtain at least 124 driver’s licenses for people who didn’t qualify for a legal one, and 30 of the licenses were commercial driver’s licenses. Virginia DMV cancelled all 124 licenses.

According to prosecutors, Harley used falsified documents to obtain a Virginia commercial driver’s license and get a job as a Metro bus driver. She was in training from July 22, 2022, through Oct. 18, 2022 but was fired during the training phase for reasons unrelated to the license. She helped two other people who worked as Metro drivers get Virginia commercial driver’s licenses.

Harley advertised her services for obtaining fraudulent licenses using her Instagram accounts and referrals from customers, friends and family. She charged about $300 for driver’s licenses and $450 for commercial driver’s licenses, court documents say.

Along with altering identities, Harley would electronically alter driving transcripts and proof of residency documents that the Virginia DMV requires for driver’s licenses. She reused many of the same documents, often her own bank or AT&T statements, and altered proof of residency documents.

Prosecutors say her mother’s Alexandria address was used as proof of residency on over 54 license applications. A Virginia DMV employee noticed the repetition of the address and notified DMV law enforcement, leading to an investigation and arrest of Harley.

Harley faces up to 15 years in prison and will be sentenced on Sept. 26.