The U.S. attorney's office announced Tuesday that at least 22 people have been charged in connection with a city-based identity-theft ring that allegedly involved Department of Motor Vehicles employees selling stolen identities to convicted felons.

Authorities say customers paid the DMV employees between $7,000 to $10,000 for the stolen identities. The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit identity fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to misuse Social Security numbers, bribery and accepting bribes.

One alleged customer was featured on the television program "America's Most Wanted" for prior drug trafficking and money laundering charges, while another is a convicted sex offender.

The ring also allegedly helped an undercover officer who claimed to be on the government's no-fly list and said he needed a driver's license in order to fly to Pakistan.

"Let's be clear. This case is not about teenagers trying to get IDs to get into the local bar," said John Morton, the assistant secretary of homeland security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security. "This case is about serious criminals up to no good in New York City."

"By announcing this case, we hope to send a message to every employee in every government agency that you cannot sell your integrity," said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. "If you do, you put everyone in your community at risk, and your country at risk."

Law enforcement agents were aided by two undercover informants -- one who worked in the DMV office in Harlem and another who worked in the Yonkers branch.

So far, of the 22 alleged vendors and customers who were charged, 19 have been arrested.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities say more people may be charged in connection with the ID theft ring.