HARRISBURG - Thirty individuals and 21 businesses in Lehigh, Lebanon and Philadelphia counties have been charged with “title washing” and retitling stolen vehicles.
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges Friday. In a statement, his office said that title-washing fraud “was designed to bypass rigid requirements for reconstructed titles in states such as New Jersey and New York.”
By retitling stolen vehicles, Shapiro's office said the individuals were trying to make them look legitimate for resale or export.
- Thirty individuals and 21 businesses throughout Lehigh, Lebanon and Philadelphia counties have been charged in a scheme to retitle stolen vehicles
- Through the scheme, Shapiro's office said vehicles that had been totaled were given falsified information in order to resell or export them
- Shapiro's office said the vehicles had falsified safety inspection records to make them seem roadworthy
“The defendants used their positions and knowledge of PennDOT requirements to defraud state and federal authorities and put unsuspecting drivers at risk,” Shapiro said in a statement.
Shapiro’s office said the network of individuals and businesses bought vehicles that were totaled, falsified inspection information and submitted fraudulent title applications to PennDOT. They also removed and changed the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) attached to each vehicle.
As part of this scheme, Shapiro’s office said safety inspections that were required to make a vehicle roadworthy weren’t completed.
“Vehicles that have been totaled must not only be repaired but also undergo an enhanced safety inspection to ensure they are safe," Shapiro said in a statement.
"The defendants instead allowed hundreds of heavily damaged vehicles onto the roadways in Pennsylvania and around the country without even looking at them,” Shapiro added.
“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.”
“Vehicles that have been totaled must not only be repaired but also undergo an enhanced safety inspection to ensure they are safe.”Josh Shapiro, Attorney General
Shapiro’s office charged the following individuals in the alleged scheme. His office did not provide the ages or home addresses of any of those charged.
Individuals charged include Roberto Gomez-Gomez, Nora D. Rodriguez, Jimmy Rodriguez-Cosme, Jessica L. Engelke, Ahmed Lopez-Roman, Aristeds Aquino, Jean C. Aquino-Belen, Rafael Santiago-Pacheco, Juana Belen-Valdez, Juana Belen-De Evangelista, Osiris M. Fernandez-Gonzalez, Edgar Collado, Mohammad Alkurdi, Mohamed Kerdi, Albert Luciano-Rodriguez, Edward Saldivar, Adelaida Mirelis Mendoza, Eulid Urena-Recio, Linda M. Sandoval Martinez-Herrera, Margarete Rose Almashaqbeh, Charlie Jiminan, Beaki Antonia Perez, Somary Ibeth Otanez-DeLoor, Indalecia Vazquez, Maria Pineda, Jefferson Loor-Valet, Angel Mendez, David Morrison, Oleg Zelenko and Igor A. Dratch.
Shapiro’s office also charged 21 businesses — though the office did not include where these businesses are located.
The businesses involved are 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 and Amatti Auto Sales LLC.
“I congratulate Attorney General Shapiro and his staff on this investigation and the resulting arrests,” Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin said.
“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,” he added.
Shaprio’s office noted that any consumers who believe they may have been a victim of the practices of any of the dealerships, vehicle inspectors or tag agents, or have information about this or other forms of vehicles or title fraud, should reach out to the Office of Attorney General by emailing the Insurance Fraud Section at titlefraud@attorneygeneral.gov.
