Police officers from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) arrested a man suspected of selling stolen vehicles online in Las Vegas. David Pereira, 27, was apprehended on August 12 while attempting to sell a stolen 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD listed on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace for $27,000 cash.
Investigators from the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division posed as buyers to track down the vehicle they believed was stolen. After confirming its status, they intervened as Pereira tried to sell the truck to an unsuspecting buyer. Pereira fled but was captured after a brief pursuit.
The truck involved had fraudulent documentation, including a fictitious California title and forged insurance cards. It also bore a stolen California license plate. Pereira faces eight felony charges related to fraud, car theft, and falsifying documents, along with one misdemeanor charge for resisting arrest.
The investigation began when another victim reported purchasing a vehicle from Pereira for $18,000 cash that was later impounded as stolen. After his arrest, investigators linked him to this previous sale and pressed additional charges.
Pereira is currently on probation for misdemeanor drug charges in Texas and has no known address or identification. DMV investigators have been monitoring scams involving individuals who alter vehicle identification numbers (VINs) on stolen cars before selling them in Nevada using fake paperwork.
“Buyers should beware of individuals who are offering vehicles for discounted prices but demand cash,” said J.D. Decker, chief of DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division. “This applies specifically to late model pickup trucks which are commonly found to be involved in these scams.”
Decker noted that light-duty pickup trucks are often targeted due to their ease of theft and VIN alteration. The public is encouraged to report any suspected fraudulent sales by contacting the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division at 702-486-8626 or dmv.nv.gov/ced.htm.
