Elvis Sentenced for Stealing Cars, Reselling Them on Facebook Marketplace
A federal court sentenced Elvis Perez to 60 months in prison in a family scheme to steal identities and use them to get car and consumer loans.
Targeted Businesses Providing Used Car Financing
Perez and his co-conspirators targeted businesses that provided new and pre-owned vehicle finance services, according to the indictment. The businesses were in multiple states, including New York, Nevada, Virginia, Connecticut and Illinois.
Starting around September 2020, Perez, Walker and others obtained victims’ personal identification information, such as full names, dates of birth, addresses, and social security numbers, without the individuals’ knowledge. Once they had the personal information, Perez and his co-conspirators used the stolen identities to apply for consumer loans via online portals.
Some of the loans Perez and his co-conspirators applied for were auto loans from car dealerships in Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and other areas, according to the indictment.
Co-conspirators Posed as Identity Theft Victims
Once the loan applications were pre-approved by the online system, Walker provided the names, social security numbers, and other personal information to Perez, Goff, Owen and others recruited by Walker, and they posed as the people whose identities they had stolen, according to the indictment. Walker, Perez and the other co-conspirators communicated through apps like Facebook Messenger and Telegram. Walker provided Perez and the others with fake driver’s licenses containing the stolen personal information and the co-conspirator’s photo.
Used Fake IDs at Loan Establishments
With these fraudulent identities, Walker, Perez, and the other co-conspirators went in person to the loan establishment they were previously pre-approved for, as detailed in the indictment. There, they filled out the rest of the loan application paperwork using the fraudulent information Walker provided. They told the financial institutions that they were planning to use the cash they received to buy a car, but instead, when they received the money, Perez and the others sent it to Walker, who would then pay them a sum.
Over the next few years, Walker, Perez and the other co-conspirators used the personal information of more than two dozen people to apply for auto loans with dealerships through non-bank lenders and financial institutions, according to the Indictment.
Sold a Harley on Facebook Marketplace
Walker did have the co-conspirators buy some of the vehicles they applied for. On Dec. 5, 2020, Owen applied for $31,947.30 with Eaglemark Savings Bank in New Jersey to buy a 2020 Harley-Davidson, as detailed in the indictment. Upon approval, Owen purchased the motorcycle and sent it to Walker in Connecticut for resale on Facebook Marketplace.
On Feb. 13. 2021, Perez applied for a $40,375.70 loan on a 2021 Can-Am Maverick ATV and, upon approval, took custody and gave it to Walker for resale, according to the indictment.
Perez was arrested on July 19, 2023, and has 12 felony convictions in his criminal history, according to the DOJ press release. Per his plea agreement, Perez pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft on June 24, 2024. In addition to 60 months in prison, Perez will serve three years of supervised release.
More From This Author
Arizona Elected Official Stole $38 Million from Santa Cruz County
Report Jessika Saunders | Jan 29, 2025
Chinese Man Pleads Guilty to Running Illegal Police Station in NYC
Report Jessika Saunders | Jan 27, 2025
Weekly Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
Weekly
Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
