Key Points
- El Paso car dealership owner and two employees arrested for alleged fraudulent title transfers.
- Improper paperwork can cause serious issues for car buyers, including invalid registration.
- The dealership’s future operations are currently uncertain amid the ongoing investigation.
A car dealership owner in El Paso, Texas — along with two of his employees — has been arrested on charges related to allegedly fraudulent vehicle title transfers. According to the El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office via KTSM, the three were taken into custody as the investigation remains ongoing.
The dealership at the center of the case is Car Capitol, located at 6354 N. Mesa in West El Paso. Owner Perry Wolfe has been charged with fraudulent transfer of a motor vehicle, while two of his employees, Regina Ozaeta and Mario Uribe, have been charged with tampering with government records.
Why Paperwork Matters
Improperly handled car titles can create major problems for unsuspecting buyers. If the paperwork isn’t completed legally, a vehicle’s registration may not be valid, opening the door to issues during traffic stops or when trying to renew documents. In more severe cases, buyers may end up unable to legally sell their vehicles later on, since a questionable title can trigger legal disputes, prevent transfers, or reduce the car’s market value significantly.
A look at Car Capitol’s public-facing website shows the business offers a broad mix of used vehicles. Listings range from affordable daily drivers like the Toyota Corolla to luxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Land Rover Range Rover. The dealership also advertises EVs like the Tesla Model 3…