2026 Winners

International and Region 3

Ohio State Highway Patrol

Sergeant Travis P. Rothenbuhler

In October 2024, Sergeant Travis P. Rothenbuhler of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Findlay District Office of Investigative Services initiated a title fraud investigation involving two vehicles titled to a Toledo, Ohio, business using suspected fraudulent out-of-state titles. The vehicles, a 2020 Ram 3500 and a 2021 GMC 2500, were presented with Georgia and Alabama titles, respectively. Both titles were checked through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS), where discrepancies were identified. Through further investigation and coordination with investigators in Georgia and Alabama, both titles were confirmed to be fraudulent.

Further investigation of the two fraudulent titles led to the recovery of the 2021 GMC after it was sold to a local car dealership. The vehicle was inspected and found to be a retagged stolen vehicle from Lucas County, Ohio. The dealership provided the purchase agreement and video, leading to the identification of a suspect.

Sergeant Rothenbuhler continued his investigation and identified a second vehicle titled to the same suspect in the dealership sale. In total, five suspects were identified, four in Ohio and one in Florida. Using NMVTIS, Sergeant Rothenbuhler was also able to identify other fraud and theft offenses related to the same suspects.

A search warrant was executed at the property of the suspect identified through the dealership sale. During the execution of the warrant, extensive criminal activity was uncovered, leading to the recovery of four additional stolen vehicles, including a 2022 Ram 1500 pickup, a 2024 Ram 1500 pickup, a 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia sedan, and a 2019 BMW X5 SUV. The total value of the recovered stolen vehicles exceeded $187,000.

In addition to the vehicles, investigators seized two kilograms of methamphetamine, 99 fentanyl pills, 36 marijuana plants, 11 firearms, $146,563 in U.S. currency, and various fraudulent VIN labels and titles. Three additional vehicles owned by the suspect were also seized pending forfeiture as criminal proceeds.

Sergeant Rothenbuhler worked tirelessly to identify VINs, fraudulent paperwork, receipts, and corresponding documents and to cross-reference information to tie the thefts to the suspects. None of the investigative work could have been completed without the use of NMVTIS.

Sergeant Rothenbuhler’s investigation uncovered a multistate criminal enterprise and led to the indictment of five suspects on 78 felony counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, drug trafficking and possession, tampering with records, perjury, receiving stolen property, and grand theft. The case remains under investigation.

Region 1

Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles

Matthew Halstead, Enforcement Officer

In December 2019, Enforcement Officer Matt Halstead encountered a vehicle title during a routine registration transaction with mileage entries that did not align. Matt paused, trusted his instincts, and initiated an investigation that would uncover a multilayered odometer fraud scheme spanning Rhode Island. Using the VSC Document Viewer, he identified subtle alterations, including blacked-out entries, overwritten mileage figures, and ink inconsistencies designed to disguise the true odometer reading. A NMVTIS check confirmed the discrepancy: the title listed 62,197 miles, while the actual mileage was 162,197.

Recognizing the broader implications, Matt interviewed the customer, who revealed she had purchased the vehicle from a Rhode Island seller, not the Massachusetts dealership listed on the title. Following these leads, Matt traced vehicle listings on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, linking multiple vehicles to altered documents from three Massachusetts dealerships: Dream Team Auto Group, BM Best Auto Sales Inc., and Royal Crest Motors LLC.

To protect Rhode Island consumers, Enforcement Officer Matt Halstead proposed implementing immediate safeguards, including an internal “Do Not Process” list for all transactions involving the identified dealerships. He also directed frontline staff to forward suspicious documents to Enforcement. Matt coordinated closely with his enforcement colleagues and Acting Chief of Enforcement Det. Brown of the Rhode Island State Police, providing documentation and investigative guidance that informed vehicle inspections and follow-up enforcement actions.

Over the next several years, the investigation evolved into a coordinated, statewide effort. Enforcement staff, using NMVTIS/LEAT, Copart records, auction data, and Carfax, confirmed repeated odometer tampering and gathered evidence for prosecution. In 2025, the Rhode Island Attorney General secured the conviction of lead orchestrator Pablo Beato, who rolled back odometers on 42 vehicles, defrauding consumers of more than $150,000. Co-conspirators remain under indictment, demonstrating the sustained effectiveness of the Enforcement Division’s methods.

Matt’s early vigilance and initiative ensured that fraudulent titles were intercepted before entering the registration system and that altered documents were identified, preventing false mileage from becoming part of state records. His investigative leads enabled targeted inspections by Rhode Island State Police detectives, helping protect consumers from financial loss. The effort also resulted in a permanent, institutionalized fraud-prevention workflow that continues to detect suspicious transactions today.

Matt Halstead’s analytical skill, persistence, and foresight gave Rhode Island a head start in identifying fraud patterns later confirmed in public prosecutions. By transforming a routine transaction into a statewide model for proactive fraud prevention, he strengthened consumer protection, upheld the integrity of state records, and created lasting operational improvements. His vigilance, initiative, and innovative thinking exemplify the highest standard of individual fraud prevention in the motor vehicle community.

Region 2

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles 

Mary Lou Cardenas, Compliance Specialist 

Ms. Mary Lou Cardenas has served the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) for more than 25 years as an Enforcement Compliance Specialist (CS), consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication to safeguarding the integrity of Texas motor vehicle title and registration systems. Her investigative work in Webb County, concluding on June 10, 2025, is a model of excellence in compliance oversight and fraud detection.

In March 2023, during a routine compliance review, CS Cardenas identified a concerning trend in Webb County title transactions. Specifically, she observed an unusually high number of no-fee and private-party title transfers with purchase prices significantly below the Standard Presumptive Value, as determined using Black Book assessments, suggesting possible manipulation to reduce sales tax liability. Her sharp attention to detail and deep understanding of transaction patterns led her to review additional transactions, revealing broader issues, including incomplete documentation, missing odometer disclosure statements, and acceptance of transactions without proper evidence of ownership.

Rather than stopping with her initial findings, CS Cardenas took proactive steps to escalate the issue. During a fraud prevention training session, she engaged county supervisors who shared additional examples of questionable transactions, establishing a link to a single employee. The corroborating evidence uncovered by CS Cardenas established a clear pattern of potential fraud, allowing her to collaborate with TxDMV Enforcement Investigators and initiate a criminal referral to the Texas Rangers. Before formal disciplinary action could be taken, the employee resigned.

Beyond the misconduct of an individual, CS Cardenas uncovered systemic weaknesses in Webb County operations. High staff turnover, lack of adequate training, and weak managerial oversight created an environment where errors—and, in some cases, abuse—could and did go unchecked. In a follow-up review in June 2024, Webb County received consecutive “High Risk” designations from the department for repeated violations, including accepting falsified documents, improper handling of bonded titles, and manually entered inspection data inconsistent with the state’s emissions processes.

CS Cardenas audited 804 transactions across 34 employees, revealing a 28% error rate. While not all errors were fraudulent, they highlighted widespread noncompliance that enabled misconduct and increased the risk of future abuse. Her findings led to decisive corrective action. For the first time, TxDMV temporarily revoked all access to the state’s registration and title system for all Webb County employees until mandatory retraining was completed.

Thanks to Ms. Cardenas’ thorough review, fraudulent activity was halted, accountability was enforced, and operational reforms within the county were implemented. A subsequent review showed a significant reduction in error rates, from 28% to 10% overall, constituting a marked improvement in transaction quality.

The Webb County case underscores how insufficient oversight, inadequate training, and disregard for proper practices can create opportunities for fraud and misuse of state systems. The department successfully prevented further fraudulent transactions, initiated criminal referrals against the employee at issue, and reinforced statewide accountability for title and registration operations at the county level, thanks to the remarkable efforts of CS Cardenas.

Region 4

Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles 

Detective Dustin Lobock, Nevada DMV Compliance Enforcement Division 

In November 2024, a Nevada citizen purchased a truck on social media for $50,000 in cash. He then drove the vehicle to a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles VIN Inspection Station, where VIN inspectors determined that it had fictitious VIN labels. Inspectors contacted Detective Dustin Lobock of the Nevada DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division, who confirmed the confidential VIN and determined that the vehicle had been stolen from California. The vehicle was impounded by DMV police, and the victim learned he was out $50,000.

In this case, as in many others, the victim described the sale as a social media post advertising an “act now” deal with a heavily discounted price and a cash-only transaction. The victim withdrew cash for a same-day sale without checking any vehicle verification databases. The only information the victim had identifying the seller was a photo of the seller’s driver’s license taken at the meeting.

The seller’s driver’s license was fake, even though he used an actual photo of himself. Using facial recognition technology, Detective Lobock identified the seller and matched a social media profile to a person with a similar name and photo. Lobock also obtained surveillance video from the business where the transaction took place, clearly showing the suspect engaging in the fraudulent sale.

Through his investigation, Lobock identified numerous residences associated with the suspect in Las Vegas. Lobock surveilled these locations to determine whether the suspect could be found. Through a forensic examination of cell phone data, Lobock learned that one of the leasing offices he had contacted had tipped off the suspect. The suspect then contacted the motor vehicle dealer from whom he had obtained the stolen vehicle. The dealer happened to be part of a larger known investigation involving the DMV, Las Vegas police, and the ATF related to illegal guns, stolen vehicles, and unlicensed motor vehicle activity.

Lobock eventually located vehicles registered to the suspect at one of the known residential locations. He surveilled the location until the suspect appeared and left the property in his vehicle. Taking quick action, Lobock assembled a Division patrol team to conduct a traffic stop and arrested the suspect.

During the interview, the suspect admitted that he had lied to the victim about the origin of the vehicle. He also stated that he had used a fraudulent driver’s license to avoid accountability for “buyer problems” with vehicles he had sold in the past.

Detective Lobock’s investigation led to the recovery of the stolen vehicle, the arrest of the suspect, and additional evidence to be used in the larger investigation of a motor vehicle dealer trafficking in guns and stolen vehicles. Although the victim did not recover the money he paid for the stolen vehicle, the prosecution of this individual ensures that he will not be able to continue swindling Nevada citizens and may discourage others from engaging in similar illegal activities.