DMV shuts local office: West Salem unit worker arrested

By: By Michael Hewlett | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: September 02, 2009

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles closed the license-plate agency in the West Salem Shopping Center yesterday after one of the agency's former employees was arrested on fraud charges.

Zoyla Bustos-Perez, 28, of 3001 Marmion St. was charged with misapplication of government property, obtaining state vehicle titles by false pretense, and accessing state government computers to defraud the state of North Carolina.

Busto-Perez was in the country illegally, said Barbara Gonzalez, the southern regional communication director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Benjamin F. Joyce and Jarret Henry Joyce have run the office, which is on Peters Creek Parkway since 1993. They are under investigation by the immigration agency over whether they knowingly hired an illegal immigrant.

No charges have been filed against the owners, officials said.

Benjamin Joyce did not return a message yesterday requesting comment.

The investigation into the agency started about nine months ago, said Margo Howell, a spokeswoman for the DMV.

License-plate agencies offer vehicle-registration services, title transactions, vehicle-license renewals, replacement license plates and duplicate registrations, according to DMV. There are about 120 license-plate agencies across the state. They are typically operated by contractors, such as the Joyces.

According to arrest warrants, the alleged offenses involving Bustos-Perez started on Nov. 11, 2000. She was arrested by federal immigration agents in January, and administrative removal proceedings against her have begun, Gonzalez said.

A note on the door of the agency referred people to license-plate agencies at Parkway Plaza at 1141 Silas Creek Parkway and at 1325 E. N.C. 66 South in Kernersville. The note did not mention the investigation.

Last year, the DMV closed two license-plate agencies in High Point and Thomasville because of an investigation into fraudulent activities.

■ Michael Hewlett can be reached at 727-7326 or at mhewlett@wsjournal.com.