Officials from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles' Compliance Enforcement Division (CED) have arrested a suspect in Las Vegas after collaborating with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The investigation, which began with tracking two luxury SUVs stolen from Florida, led to the discovery of one of Nevada's largest credit card skimming operations.
An arrest warrant was issued for Yan Luis Acosta-Hernandez on charges related to possession of stolen vehicles and vehicles with altered VINs. During a raid on a residence, conducted with support from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, investigators found cash, drugs, 71 credit card skimming devices, and other fraudulent equipment.
"Through the NICB, we learned that Florida detectives suspected that the vehicles might be in Nevada," said CED Chief J.D. Decker. CED determined that the VIN numbers had been switched, indicating vehicle theft. "We caught a lucky break and located one of the vehicles on the road. After following it to a residence, we tied the residence to the people we are looking at."
Stolen vehicles often become tools for scammers selling them at low prices on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace. Decker explained that these sales usually involve missing title paperwork as a warning sign.
"Ultimately what ends up happening is these vehicles are sold to unsuspecting members of the public for cash," Decker stated. Buyers may later discover their purchase was stolen when contacted by law enforcement or another individual claiming ownership.
The DMV advises potential buyers to meet sellers at local DMV offices and use VIN inspection services to verify vehicle legitimacy. Ensuring title matches seller information is crucial to avoid scams.