Woman Arrested After Attempting to Sell Stolen Vehicle with Fraudulent Title in Houston

On August 7, 2024, investigators with Harris County Constable Mark Herman’s Criminal Investigations Division and Patrol Division responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. The investigators received information indicating that the stolen vehicle was being sold online. They also learned that a potential buyer and a suspect were planning to meet at the Bank of America located in the 12400 block of the North Freeway in Houston.

Constable deputies successfully recovered the stolen vehicle and apprehended the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Stephanie Castro. Further investigation revealed that the vehicle had originally been reported stolen to the Baytown Police Department. It was also discovered that Castro was in possession of a fraudulent vehicle title, and the vehicle had undergone a VIN swap. The stolen vehicle was found to be displaying identification from a similar type of vehicle with a clean title that had not been reported stolen.

Stephanie Castro was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, where she was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Her bond was set at $10,000.00 by the 208th District Court.

“Citizens please be diligent when conducting similar transactions. This stolen vehicle was cleverly disguised as a legitimate vehicle sale and it was only after a very close inspection of the vehicle that the full scale of the crimes were discovered”, said Constable Mark Herman.