8 Auto Fraud Suspects Arrested in Sting Operation

Eight people were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly tried to change vehicle identification numbers and buy phony DMV registration documents from undercover police officers during a sting operation, authorities said.

The arrests capped a four-month investigation by the district attorney’s Orange County auto-theft task force, which worked with officers from 12 law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Arrested were Eric Huerta, 28, of Costa Mesa; his mother, Margarita Garcia Huerta, 54, of Lakewood; his sister Jennifer Emma Huerta, 22, of Lakewood; Chad Nakosone, 29, of Irvine; Sean Michael Brantley, 31, of Mission Viejo; Oscar Sanchez, 32, of Costa Mesa; Alexander Paleo, 20; and Christian Sanchez, 26, of Hawthorne. They are being held at Santa Ana Jail on suspicion of grand theft auto, conspiracy and insurance fraud, among other charges.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Pete Pierce said it is unknown how long the fraud ring had been operating or how many people were involved, but more arrests will probably be made.

He said members of the ring handed over their own cars to alleged ringleaders Eric Huerta and Nakosone, who switched the VINs and provided fake DMV records.

“The members wouldn’t report the cars stolen until after Huerta does the information switches,” Pierce said. That way, he said, they got insurance money for the car while also reselling the vehicle.

Nine late-model cars, which cost a total of about $500,000, were turned over to police for VIN switching before the arrests were made.