VACAVILLE – On February 22, 2026, the Vacaville Police department announced the arrest of a 38-year-old Sacramento man on felony vehicle fraud charges. 

In January, an alert employee at a local car dealership said something felt “off” during a vehicle sale. The vehicle in question was an almost brand-new Lexus SUV. The man attempting to sell it provided a vague explanation, claiming a relative had recently given it to him. He said he lived in California but presented identification from a Midwest state.

Several other aspects of the transaction did not add up, so the dealership employee took the initiative to do some additional research and discovered the vehicle had recently been purchased in Southern California and still had an outstanding $76,000 lien.

After the employee contacted Vacaville Police, officers began coordinating with DMV Investigations and the CHP Automotive Task Force. During the investigation, they learned of a growing trend involving fraudulent DMV paperwork being created and used to sell vehicles for profit. Investigators seized the vehicle and collected additional evidence related to the case.

The original seller, a 38-year-old man from Sacramento, was arrested and booked into the Solano County Jail on felony vehicle fraud charges. Since that time, the CHP has identified nearly 20 other fraud-related vehicles in the Sacramento area alone.

Vacaville Police extended its gratitude to its allied agencies.

“California DMV investigators are a great resource for vehicle fraud investigations.  The investigators have expertise in laws, and rules, and regulations, that apply to the sale of vehicles.  They are often called upon by local law enforcement departments to assist in vehicle fraud related investigations,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.