DMV Employee, Co-Conspirator Charged in Harris County Car Title Laundering Scheme

HOUSTON, TX – The Harris County District Attorney’s Office announced on July 10, 2025, that it has filed five felony charges against a local Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee and a co-conspirator involved in an alleged car title laundering scheme. The charges are the result of an ongoing joint investigation conducted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit.

On July 9, 2025, DMV employee Carlisha Haywood was charged with Bribery and two counts of Tampering with a Government Record. Her alleged co-conspirator, Xavier Goodwin Washington, was also charged with two counts of Tampering with a Government Record. All charges are second-degree felonies, each punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials uncovered an auto theft operation where individuals would allegedly steal vehicles and then sell them to unwitting purchasers. To facilitate these fraudulent sales, the conspirators would swap the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the stolen vehicle with a “clean” VIN from a different vehicle of the same make and model. In this particular case, Goodwin Washington is accused of bribing Haywood, exploiting her access as a DMV employee to obtain certified copies of car titles to enable the fraudulent sales.

The investigation remains ongoing.

“The people of Harris County deserve to trust that their public institutions serve them—and not criminal organizations that prey on innocent people,” said Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare. “Too many Houstonians have been victimized by car theft and fraud. I’m deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers who led this investigation and operation. They have our full support as we continue to root out public corruption with integrity, determination and urgency.”