Man Charged With Leading $1M Vehicle Title Washing Scheme Arrested in Mexico

A man officials say headed a Pennsylvania-based vehicle title-washing criminal enterprise has been arrested in Mexico — after three months as a fugitive, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.

The attorney general filed charges in August against Anthony E. Troncoso and 12 others regarding the criminal organization that officials allege profited over $1 million selling high-end vehicles stolen in Florida.

Sunday said Troncoso was recently apprehended in Mexico City. He was arraigned in Dauphin County and bail was set at $1 million cash.

Pablo Correa, who has been charged as a co-conspirator, was arrested with Troncoso in Mexico. His bail was set at $500,000 cash.

According to prosecutors, the criminal enterprise sold more than two dozen stolen vehicles. After washing the titles by fabricating documents regarding ownership, registration, and insurance, the group sold the vehicles to private buyers and at auction and dealerships, officials allege.

Troncoso is charged with nine felonies and six misdemeanors, including felony corrupt organizations, washing vehicle titles, and theft by deception. Other members of the group — including Troncoso’s relatives and his girlfriend — are each charged with their respective roles in the scheme.

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Prosecutors said the title-washing — “cleaning” a vehicle’s paper trail of attached liens or loans by registering the vehicle in another state with fraudulent documentation — happened at licensed tag agencies and notaries in Berks, Dauphin, and Lehigh counties, as well as at PennDOT headquarters in Dauphin County.

Among the vehicle brands sold were Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti. Most of the sales happened between 2022 and 2023.

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General

Topics Auto