HARRISBURG, PA — Thirteen individuals, including the alleged ringleader and several associates across multiple states, have been charged in connection with a wide-ranging vehicle title-washing scheme that authorities say generated more than $1 million in illicit profits by trafficking stolen luxury vehicles from Florida through Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, in coordination with the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, announced the charges on Wednesday. The investigation—described by officials as complex and multi-jurisdictional—focused on an alleged criminal enterprise led by 44-year-old Anthony E. Troncoso. According to the Attorney General’s Office, Troncoso and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained legitimate-looking Pennsylvania titles for stolen vehicles, which they then sold to private buyers, dealerships, and auctions.
“This sophisticated criminal organization washed clean high-end vehicles that were stolen in Florida then sold to unsuspecting buyers,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Without the collaboration of numerous law enforcement partners, and the diligence of the grand jurors, this elaborate scheme would not have been unraveled.”
The scheme involved forging or falsifying documents related to vehicle ownership, registration, and insurance. These altered records were used to “wash” titles—removing liens or any record of theft—at licensed tag agencies and notary offices in Berks, Dauphin, and Lehigh counties, as well as at PennDOT headquarters in Dauphin County. Vehicles linked to the fraud include high-value brands such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Land Rover, Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti.
Most of the fraudulent activity occurred between 2022 and 2023, and many of the vehicles were later resold to buyers unaware of the vehicles’ stolen origins.
Troncoso faces nine felony charges and six misdemeanors, including charges of corrupt organizations, theft by deception, and title washing. Several members of his alleged network—including relatives and his girlfriend—have also been charged based on their respective roles in the operation. Arrests have already begun, with several defendants having been taken into custody, while others are expected to surrender or are awaiting extradition from out of state.
Those charged alongside Troncoso include:
- Brandon Troncoso (Anthony’s son): 5 charges, in custody
- Aida Flores (Brandon’s mother): 13 charges, scheduled to surrender
- Christina DeMase (Anthony’s girlfriend): 1 charge, pending extradition from California
- Jean Garcia Rodriguez: 17 charges, to surrender
- Samantha Rosario: 10 charges, not in custody
- Heicha Vega-Baez: 18 charges, not in custody
- Michael Ramirez: 15 charges, pending extradition from Florida
- Fabiola Lucena: 1 charge, in custody
- Pablo Correa, Jose Ariza, Jeffrey Candelo, and Dario Jiminez Lopez: multiple charges, none currently in custody
Investigators noted that some defendants have ties to Mexico, and many reside outside of Pennsylvania, including in Florida and other states. Several are also accused of fraudulently obtaining Pennsylvania identification cards using falsified documents, which were then used to facilitate vehicle registrations.
The case is being prosecuted by the Insurance Fraud Section of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, with investigative support from the Pennsylvania State Police, Berks and Lehigh County Detectives, the New York City Police Department, and law enforcement agencies in Miami and Miami-Dade County.
As of now, all charges remain allegations. Each of the defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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