IMPORTANT NEWS...

Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Arrests Local Man for Identification Fraud

February 20, 2009

TALLAHASSEE—Today, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco helped prevent underage drinking at the source by arresting a man for making fake identifications.  ABT agents arrested David Alexander Ocon, born Jan. 19, 1989, this afternoon on the charges of selling, manufacturing, delivering or offering to sell counterfeit driver’s license or identification cards, which is a third degree felony. He was also charged with making or having instruments and material for counterfeiting driver’s licenses or identification cards, which is a second degree felony.   

ABT works diligently through education, prevention and enforcement to stop underage drinking.  While many of their operations include compliance checks of licensed establishments and sting operations, ABT agents are also authorized to make arrests for crimes involving fraudulent identifications.  By combating the manufacturing of false identification, ABT agents can help prevent underage drinking, in addition to preventing other violations of law such as the underage purchasing of tobacco products.

The mission of ABT is to keep alcohol and tobacco out of the hands of underage persons, to ensure that licensed establishments are in compliance with the laws and rules regulating the industry in Florida, and to collect taxes and fees related to these industries.

The department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly.  The department licenses more than one million businesses and professionals ranging from real estate agents, veterinarians, and accountants to contractors and cosmetologists.  For more information, please visit MyFloridaLicense.com. 

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