And it all started with a phony drivers' license.
This is a case of criminal impersonation that now has the attention of the FBI and other agencies. It's a nightmare example of driver's license fraud -- a problem that's nationwide -- but at its most serious in New Jersey. Here there is an outdated system that makes it easy street for crooks.
Newark firefighter Deblin Rodriguez is used to jumping into his firetruck to save lives, but now he's accused of putting lives at risk.
Deblin Rodriguez: "It's been a nightmare."
A nightmare which began with a complaint from the Connecticut State Police. The seven-year firefighting veteran found himself accused of driving a tractor trailer into the back of a car on Interstate 84, near Waterbury.
Deblin Rodriguez: "The last time I was in Connecticut was about three, four years ago. I went to play the Lotto."
And yes, he can prove he wasn't in Waterbury on February 28th. Rogriguez is also a full-time college student, and has school parking garage records for that date.
He thought his troubles were over when he sent Polaroid pictures of himself to police in Connecticut, and they admitted he didn't look anything like the driver of the tractor trailer.
But then ...
Deblin Rodriguez: "I received another notice, from Virginia. It said I had been improperly driving a tractor trailer, improperly stopped on a highway. In Virginia."
In that case, Rodriguez's license was ordered suspended for failure to respond to a traffic summons near Richmond. But he was on duty at the firehouse, as documented in their log book.
Rodriguez also has a warrant for arrest in Greenbrook, New Jersey. Even before he had a chance to clear up the mess in Virginia, Rodriguez was accused of rear-ending on Route 22 in Somerset County, New Jersey. The driver fled the scene, was caught, released, and then failed to show up in court.
What's not clear is if it's one person who's stolen Rodriguez's personal information, or several different people.
Diane Legreide, NJ DMV Director: "If there is a broker ring that's using one person's license to get multiple duplicates using one person's picture, you can 4-5 different using the same driver's license. And that's what we're trying to get a handle on now."
The system in New Jersey makes it so easy for crooks. You can walk into any DMV and get up to eight duplicate licenses a day. Which is about to change as the DMV director greenlights sweeping anti-fraud innovations. Including a digital license system which will kick off in July.
In the meantime, Rodriguez has a new license number. His old one is now red-flagged by authorities, who are hoping to put the brakes on the highway hazard abusing Rodriguez's name.
Deblin Rodriguez: "There's somebody out there, trying to ruin my reputation and my life."
Or somebodies. Authorities in Virginia just called to tell us that earlier today they saw the same tractor trailer they ticketed before, but the driver got away. It is a New Jersey plate, and authorities there are running those numbers, hoping to work backwards to the trucking company and then the driver. Or drivers.
