The indictment alleges that from 2009 through February 2014, the defendants rolled back the odometers on at least 146 vehicles.
A federal grand jury indicted two men for odometer fraud. Erick Sanchez-Pulido, 30, and his brother, Israel Sanchez-Pulido, 31, were charged with one count of conspiracy, 15 counts of odometer fraud, four counts of making false odometer statements and other charges. Both men, Mexican citizens, were allegedly in the U.S. illegally. Prior to their arrests, they had been living in the Chicago area. The charges were filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
The indictment charges that the Sanchez brothers purchased high-mileage used motor vehicles at Wisconsin auto auctions, rolled back the vehicles’ odometers, altered the mileage readings on the vehicles’ titles and sold the vehicles to unsuspecting consumers. The indictment alleges that from late 2009 through February 2014, the defendants rolled back the odometers on at least 146 vehicles.
“Tampering with odometers is a crime that puts consumers’ lives and wallets at risk,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “Safety is the Department of Transportation’s top priority, and we will continue to work with our Department of Justice and state DOT partners to deter odometer fraud and inform consumers of the potential signs of and dangers associated with this crime.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation investigated the case.
