Pennsylvania AG Charges 13 in $1M Luxury Vehicle Title-Washing Scheme

Thirteen individuals have been charged in a sophisticated luxury vehicle title-washing scheme operating out of central Pennsylvania, led by 44-year-old Anthony E. Troncoso. The criminal enterprise sold more than two dozen stolen vehicles, primarily taken from Florida, by fabricating documents that altered ownership, registration, and insurance information to 'wash' the titles. This allowed the group to sell high-end vehicles, including Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, Audi, Lexus, and Infiniti, to private buyers, dealerships, and auctions across multiple counties in Pennsylvania. The scheme involved fraudulent activity at licensed tag agencies, notaries in Berks, Dauphin, and Lehigh counties, and even at PennDOT headquarters in Dauphin County, with some conspirators obtaining Pennsylvania IDs through fake documents. Troncoso faces numerous felony and misdemeanor charges, including corrupt organizations, title washing, and theft by deception, while other members, some residing outside Pennsylvania, are charged according to their roles. The investigation involved collaboration among multiple law enforcement agencies, including Pennsylvania State Police and Miami-Dade Auto Theft Unit, and uncovered over $1 million in illicit profits from the operation.