Four Charged in Harris County Tax Office Bribery Scheme; One Suspect Remains Fugitive
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Two former Harris County Tax Office employees and the owners of a South Houston title-service company have been charged in what authorities describe as a brazen bribery scheme involving fraudulent vehicle registrations and title transfers.
According to investigators, the scheme involved paying bribes in exchange for processing vehicle registrations and title transfers without required inspections, proof of insurance, emissions testing, or residency verification.
“This involves public corruption by those who violated the people’s trust in government and abused their positions to line their own pockets,” Harris County Constable Precinct One Alan Rosen said. “This scheme was brazen and the schemers will now face justice.”
Detectives with Constable Precinct One’s Special Investigations Unit, which is based at the tax office, conducted a two-year investigation into two former tax office employees and the owners of Bella’s Multiservices, a South Houston vehicle title-service company.
Court records state Bella’s Multiservices advertised on TikTok and Facebook, promoting quick processing of paperwork without the “BS” of meeting legal requirements.
Investigators allege tens of thousands of dollars in bribes were paid to the two tax office employees to bypass mandatory vehicle registration and title transfer requirements. The employees also allegedly altered vehicle owner information to reflect Harris County addresses and ZIP codes to complete fraudulent transactions.
Authorities believe the scheme operated from November 2023 through April 2024 and possibly longer. The two tax office employees were fired in April 2024.
Those charged are:
- Renisha T. Wilkins, 35
- Sarah A. Anderson, 31
- Oswaldo (also known as Osvaldo) Perez, 51
- Adriana De La Rosa, 43
Wilkins, Anderson, and De La Rosa have been arrested. Perez remains at large.
Each defendant faces two counts of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, first-degree felonies punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The scheme was uncovered after another Texas county tax office discovered the social media advertisements and alerted state authorities, who then contacted the Special Investigations Unit at the Harris County Tax Office.
Constable Rosen thanked the tax office for its cooperation in the investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Oswaldo Perez is urged to contact Constable Precinct One at 713-755-5200 and ask for the Special Investigations Unit at the tax office.
