Two Honduran nationals and a Dallas-area resident have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a vehicle theft and fraud operation in the Eastern District of Texas, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Gustavo Adolfo Torres-Sadres, 38, from Honduras, and Julian Sanchez, 38, of Duncanville, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Paul Anthony Oliva Bejarano, 28, also from Honduras, pleaded guilty to conspiracy. All three were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan: Torres-Sadres received 78 months in federal prison; Sanchez was sentenced to 21 months; and Bejarano received an 18-month sentence.
Court records indicate that the defendants engaged in a VIN (vehicle identification number) flipping scheme. The group stole vehicles and replaced their VINs with those from salvaged cars before selling the stolen vehicles as if they had been rebuilt.
The Texas Department of Public Safety led the investigation into the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs prosecuted it.
“Three sentenced to federal prison in DFW-area VIN flipping scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
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