Arraignment for Stapleton deli worker accused of buying dead boy's identity

Authorities say a Pakistani-born deli worker from Stapleton spent $10,000 to acquire the identity of a dead child in order to use the information to get a New York driver's license. The plan allegedly fell apart after DMV officials in Travis deemed the paperwork didn't pass muster.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Pakistani-born deli worker from Stapleton who authorities say agreed to pay $10,000 to acquire the identity of a child who died in 1996 is expected to be arraigned in Stapleton Criminal Court today.
Rizwan Ahmed, 24, was led out of the 120 Police Precinct stationhouse in St. George at about 10 a.m., chained to a row of prisoners, and escorted to the court.
Ahmed stands accused of paying $10,000 to Hazel Benson, 8-year-old Michael Keller's mother, for the boy's birth certificate and social security number.
Michael died of respiratory arrest in 1996.
But the state DMV didn't fall for the dodge, and now investigators are probing whether there was a more sinister motive than the suspect's explanation that he needed the ID to get a New York driver's license.
Ahmed is charged with two counts of second-degree forgery and second-degree offering a false instrument, and a single count of false statements and alteration of records
Ms. Benson faces single counts of second-degree forgery, second-degree offering a false instrument and alteration of records.