SOUTHINGTON — A 41-year-old Bronx, New York man was arrested June 23 on charges stemming from a 2022 stolen vehicle investigation that involved fraudulent documents and altered vehicle identification numbers.
Juan Medina faces nine charges including fugitive from justice, second-degree larceny, second-degree forgery, second-degree telephone fraud, criminal impersonation, changing a motor vehicle VIN number, altered forged or counterfeited title violation, sale of motor vehicle without proper VIN, and misuse of registration.
He is being held on $375,000 bond.
The investigation began Dec. 23, 2022, when a victim reported purchasing a 2019 Toyota Highlander from an individual met through Facebook Marketplace.
The victim exchanged communications through Facebook Messenger and text messages before meeting the suspect and providing cash for the vehicle.
Police said the suspect provided fraudulent identification, a fraudulent motor vehicle title, and only one ignition key, promising to mail the second key after the transaction.
After the victim parked the vehicle at their residence, suspects returned and stole it from the driveway.
The investigating officer executed several search warrants over several months with support from the Southington Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Special Investigative Unit, local police agencies, departments in New York and New Jersey, and Special Agents with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
The vehicle was recovered in January 2023 at the Wethersfield DMV Office when another victim attempted to register it after purchase.
Police determined the vehicle had altered VIN tags and was stolen from New York.
An arrest warrant was secured through New Britain Superior Court in early 2023 charging Medina with direct involvement in the scheme.
Medina was incarcerated with the New York Department of Corrections for unrelated crimes when the warrant was issued.
He was transported to Southington Police Headquarters upon his release from New York custody, processed and transported to New Britain Superior Court June 24 for arraignment.
