TRENTON, NJ – A Pennsylvania criminal vehicle title white-washing ring was busted this week. The ring sought to move stolen and otherwise unsellable cars into states like New York and New Jersey to circumvent legal titling in those states.
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro announced the filing of criminal charges against 30 individuals and 21 businesses for re-titling stolen vehicles in Lebanon, Lehigh, and Philadelphia counties. A title washing fraud was intended to circumvent the rigid requirements for reconstructed titles in states such as New Jersey and New York. These stolen vehicles were retitled in order to make them appear legitimate for resale or export.
In addition to purchasing totaled vehicles, participants in these criminal networks are accused of falsifying inspection information and submitting fraudulent title applications to PennDOT as well as removing and changing the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) to avoid police detection of stolen vehicles. Earlier this year, sweeping arrests were made in northeastern Pennsylvania related to related criminal rings.
“The defendants used their positions and knowledge of PennDOT requirements to defraud state and federal authorities and put unsuspecting drivers at risk,” said Attorney General Shapiro. “Vehicles that have been totaled must not only be repaired but also undergo an enhanced safety inspection to ensure they are safe. The defendants instead allowed hundreds of heavily-damaged vehicles onto the roadways in Pennsylvania, and around the country without even looking at them. They gamed the system and put consumers at risk to rack up millions of dollars in illegal profits. This was widespread criminal conduct and today we brought a halt to it.”
This scheme included enhanced vehicle safety inspectors who failed to conduct the necessary inspections to make a totaled vehicle roadworthy again, instead completing only the paperwork required. Some of the vehicles they claimed to have inspected in their shops never entered Pennsylvania. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that several of the vehicles were stolen from other states.
“I congratulate Attorney General Shapiro and his staff on this investigation and the resulting arrests,” said Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin. “I commend and thank Chief Deputy District Attorney David Mussel, and all of the Lehigh County Auto Theft Task Force, for the roles that they played in this successful investigation in Lehigh County.”
In addition to 30 individual arrests, the following businesses were also charged:
- Mendoza Auto Sale, Inc.
- G & G Auto Body and Auto Salvage
- Carla Matia, LLC
- Abby Auto
- Saldivar Group, Inc.
- JM Auto Sales, Inc.
- Jessica Auto and Multiservices
- Wilfredo Auto Repair
- Emma Auto Tags and Multiservices, Inc.
- Docuservices
- A2Z Auto Sales
- Charo Auto Sales
- AMCO Motor Sales
- MP Notary and Tags, Inc.
- J & J Car and Truck Sales, LLC
- PA Tag and Title
- Perfect Touch Auto Repair & Sales
- Santos Auto Gallery
- Grig LLC
- Newroad Motors LLC
- Amatti Auto Sales LLC