BOSTON— A Brazilian national has been sentenced for his role in a sprawling conspiracy that saw him and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtain driver’s licenses for over 1,000 illegal immigrants. Helbert Costa Generoso, 41, was handed a nine-month prison sentence by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman on October 2, 2025, and faces deportation upon release.

Reports indicate Costa Generoso and his alleged associates charged up to $1,400 per client to execute their scheme. From November 2020 to September 2024, they allegedly procured driver’s licenses for clients residing in states where such licenses are prohibited for illegal aliens, primarily targeting Massachusetts and New York residents. This operation raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal profits.

In June 2025, Costa Generoso pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to unlawfully produce identification documents and fraudulently providing a false passport. He was charged alongside four co-conspirators in December 2024 as part of an extensive investigation into this significant breach of licensing protocols.

The scheme involved creating fake documents to mislead officials at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV). Applicants were required to complete written tests and driver’s education courses; however, Costa Generoso allegedly arranged to provide falsified certificates and even manipulated the online testing process to help clients bypass these requirements. In total, the group successfully obtained licenses for more than 600 customers, leading to a shocking surge in fraudulent licensing activity.

Authorities say Costa Generoso is the second defendant to plead guilty in this case, following the sentencing of co-conspirator Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, who received time served for his involvement. The fallout from this operation raises serious questions about the integrity of state licensing systems and the ongoing issues surrounding illegal immigration in the region.