Buchanan County Sheriff Mike Strong says thousands of drivers licenses based on fraudulent documents were issued in Saint Joseph because somebody “dropped the ball” at the license office.

Strong says the investigation into the nationwide fake-ID ring began in Saint Joseph after complaints came in from across the country. Six members of a Saint Joseph family are among 14 suspects indicted. US Attorney Beth Phillips says the $5-million conspiracy led to the issuing of about 3,500 invalid IDs.