LV couple complain licenses canceled in DMV worker probe

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 | 10:37 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state Department of Motor Vehicles knows of only two cases in which a driver's license was wrongfully canceled due to the fallout of an employee who illegally sold licenses, a spokesman said today.

Dalva Flagg, a former employee of the department in Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to federal charges of accepting more than $300,000 in bribes to give out bogus driver's licenses and identification cards. She is slated for sentencing June 28.

Tom Jacobs, DMV public information officer, said Flagg handled 532 identification applications and 876 drivers' license transactions from May 2000 to April 2002.

About 300 of those 1,408 transactions were questionable, Jacobs said.

The department in December 2002 sent out notices to the 1,408 people telling them to show proof they had valid licenses or identification cards. About 439 people contacted the agency and 969 did not, he said.

The department then canceled the 969 licenses of those who did not respond.

"Up until this point there has never been a whimper," he said.

Tom and Birt Groszek's licenses were canceled, but they say they never received a letter from the DMV. Jacobs said the Groszeks, of Las Vegas, had a legitimate address and the letter was mailed to them.

If they can prove who they are, they won't have a problem in getting a valid license, he said.

Jacobs said the couple are the only ones who have complained about their licenses being wrongfully canceled. But he said, "Conceivably there could have been some that fell through the cracks."

He said the Flagg investigation was started by the FBI. When Flagg came under suspicion, she was transferred to another job, and then resigned.

Jacobs said anyone who believes they have a problem with their license should contact Brandy Beach in Carson City at (775) 684-4855. All of the questionable licenses have been flagged, he said.