Pennsylvania Authorities Arrest Alleged Fraud Network Participants

Pennsylvania authorities filed criminal charges on July 13 in Dauphin County against Kenneth Torres, Louis Torres, Ruth Negron-Acevedo, Juan Lopez-Barco and Philadelphia-based businesses EZ Multi-Services and Saul Auto Tags.

According to the criminal complaints, the arrests stemmed from a multi-year joint investigation conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section and the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Task Force. The charging documents state that between June 2017 and September 2019, the defendants used EZ Multi-Services, Saul Auto Tags and other tag agencies to illegally obtain and sell vehicle registrations to customers who lacked valid identification or who wanted to conceal their identities.

The defendants allegedly were paid as much as $1,000 for each fraudulently obtained vehicle title and registration. According to the charging documents, the defendants would prepare packets of fraudulent material that included images of Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and/or identification cards, forged proof of vehicle insurance cards and bogus power of attorney forms.

The tag agencies then allegedly submitted the documents to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which processes applications for Pennsylvania vehicle titles and registrations.

According to the charging documents, the defendants illegally obtained more than 3,000 vehicle titles and registrations, which they sold to paying customers. All of the defendants were charged with multiple offenses, which included corrupt organizations, dealings in proceeds of unlawful activities, forgery, conspiracy, theft by deception, identity theft and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Topics Auto Fraud Pennsylvania