A federal grand jury has indicted a 46-year-old Maui man on a charge that he conspired to sell bogus Hawai'i driver's licenses and learner's permits.

Jerry J. Ponce was indicted Thursday on one count of conspiracy for the alleged transfer of the fraudulent licenses and permits. Ponce is scheduled to make his initial appearance before a federal magistrate Aug. 4.

Ponce is accused of selling the fake items on eight occasions from Jan. 1, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2003, according to the indictment. Ponce conspired with another person, identified in the indictment only as "R.D.," who was not charged in this case.

If convicted, Ponce faces up to 15 years in a federal prison. Ponce operates a window tinting shop in Wailuku and is not in federal custody, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Muehleck.

Muehleck declined to comment on the ongoing case, but did say the charge against Ponce is serious.

"Anybody that sells or is involved in selling more than a license is a serious offense," Muehleck said.

Ponce has a history of felony and misdemeanor convictions on Maui dating to 1976, according to the Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center.

In December 1985, Ponce was found guilty of four counts of first-degree theft and sentenced to 12 months in prison and five years probation. A year later, he was found guilty of similar charges and sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay restitution.

In July 1989, Ponce was sentenced to a year in prison after he was found guilty of six counts of negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument.

In December 1990, Ponce was found guilty of nine counts of felony second-degree theft and sentenced to five years in prison.

Ponce could not be reached for comment yesterday.