Dolores Rodriguez-LaFlamme, 40, Providence, who worked in the Registry's Pawtucket branch, was charged with making 17 licenses -- 17 counts of conspiracy to commit identity fraud. She and Soraya Santiago, 42, of Pawtucket approached the judge, their arms linked by handcuffs.

Rodriguez-LaFlamme posted the $5,000 bail with surety imposed by Judge Walter Gorman in District Court, Providence, according to a court clerk. She must surrender her passport and sign a waiver of extradition, the judge ruled.

Erik Wallin, a prosecutor with the state attorney general's office, had sought $10,000 bail with surety -- which means a person must pay 10 percent of the dollar amount or post the full amount in property.

Wallin told the judge he was concerned of her flight risk, saying she demonstrated the ability to make identification that looked real but was not validly obtained.

An affidavit by state police detective Matthew C. Moynihan states a check with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Providence found that Rodriguez LaFlamme is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic "who has been ordered deported from the United States after an application fro adjusted status was denied following an investigation into two fraudulent marriages. She currently has an appeal pending on this deportation order."

A defense lawyer countered in court that Rodriguez-LaFlame she has not been deported, but rather there is a proceeding pending. He also said she has children and is married to an American citizen.

Santiago is accused of making 11 licenses -- 11 counts of conspiracy to commit identity fraud. She was released on personal recognizance, must relinquish a passport and sign a waiver of extradition.

The same defense lawyer who spoke on behalf of Rodriguez-LaFlamme argued on Santiago's behalf for a less stringent bail than the prosecution sought. The lawyer said Santiago has lived in Rhode Island 20 years -- 18 of those in Providence and has several children

Santiago was hired June 2000 and LaFlamme was hired July 2000. Both were making $38,055.

The accused middleman is Luis Rivera, 55, of Providence who had not made the $5,000-with-surety bail as of late afternoon. He must relinquish a passport and sign a waiver of extradition. Rivera was charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting/

"This defendant collected money, which he would then pass on to individuals," Wallin said in court.

Also arraigned was Jose Bueno, 30, of Providence, who made the $5,000-with-surety bail set by the judge this afternoon; Jose Nieves, 43, whose bail was set at $5,000 with surety; and, Arismendy Gonzalez, 51, of 33 Elma St., unit 3B, Providence, who was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. All were charged with conspiracy, aiding and abetting.

Nieves was being held without bail anyway as a fugitive from Brockton, Mass.

All six are due for Dec. 5 pre-arraignment conferences and Dec. 12 arraignments in Providence County Superior Court. Some have determination of attorney hearings set ofr Oct. 24 because they said they could not afford a lawyer.

"In the post-9/11 world, law enforcement agencies at every level literally ‘cannot be too careful,’ and the integrity of the records systems relied upon by law enforcement is mission-critical," Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said in a statement. "Therefore, this scheme was a serious breach of the public trust, and I commend the State Police for their fine work in having dismantled it. We will prosecute these cases, and any others resulting from this investigation, to the fullest extent of the law.

Wallin argued in court that each defendant presented a flight risk, given that each had allegedly shown the ability to get a real-looking license through fraudulent means. That argument worked in some instances, but not others.

The Immigration and Naturalization Services has lodged immigration detainers against several of the defendants. Wallin said outside the courtroom that this is a ,way to determine whether someone is a citizen. .

Identity fraud is a felony offense punishable by up to 3 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine for a first conviction.