Miami-Dade courts employee took money to falsify documents, police say

A Miami-Dade County courts employee accepted money to give someone fake documents, an undercover police operation has found.

The two-month investigation said that Donald Mathis, 48, solicited and accepted $1,400 to provide “a confidential source” with fake official documents showing that court costs had been satisfied in order to get a valid driver’s license.

Police say Mathis confessed to the scheme.

Mathis is charged with official misconduct by a public servant, falsifying public records and conspiracy. He is being held at Turner-Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.

The Clerk of the Courts office issued a statement late Friday:

“We don’t know yet what process [Donald Mathis] used to do what he did for those people, but we are investigating it and know that he promised these people those services. He is, as of Monday, suspended without pay and pending a disciplinary hearing. Depending on the results of the hearing, he may be fired.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2019 at 4:38 PM.