LAKELAND, Fla. – A late-night patrol by a Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputy Friday led to the arrest of a Lakeland man found in possession of a fraudulent driver’s license and various new items.
According to a release from the PCSO, a deputy was on patrol around 11:22 pm in the area of Gay Road and Old Tampa Highway on the west side of Lakeland. The deputy observed a white Jeep Cherokee with an Illinois license plate parked at the end of a dark, dead-end road.
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The deputy approached the vehicle and made contact with the man in the driver’s seat, who identified himself as 34-year-old Marquise Worlds. During the interaction, the deputy noted that Worlds was in possession of a Florida driver’s license that appeared to be fake. The license reportedly bore Worlds’ photo but listed the name as Mario Lee.
Authorities described the license as “obviously fake.”
“Now, when we say that the license was obviously fake, we aren’t exaggerating. The photo was out of place and there were words that were misspelled,” said PCSO.
Worlds allegedly admitted that the fraudulent license originated from China.
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A search of the vehicle also revealed new clothing, two boxes of new shoes, and new cologne.
Deputies say a check into Worlds’ criminal history revealed multiple prior felony convictions, including three previous state prison sentences. His record includes convictions for grand theft, fraud, criminal mischief, felony battery, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Marquise Worlds was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and charged with possession of a similitude of a driver’s license.
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