After allegedly buying an RV using a customer’s personal identification, a Houston car salesman was charged with multiple felonies, a report said.
Houston resident Edwin Chavez (29), was arrested on Thursday. He was charged with theft of property exceeding $30,000 and less than $150,000, forgery, and fraud by the use or possession of identifying information. Two warrants were also issued for him out of Brazoria.
After looking at a map posted on the man’s Instagram, police said they were able to track down the property that was allegedly illegally bought.
An arrest affidavit states that Chavez is a Beck & Masten salesman in south Houston. A man who Chavez had sold a vehicle to had discovered that someone had purchased a 31-foot-long trailer from Holiday World in League City as well as a tractor and trailer from UVC Powersports in Alvin.
According to the affidavit, the victim found out that the RV had been purchased in his name after he received information about it in the mail.
According to the affidavit, the victim and the sales manager identified Chavez based on a photo posted on the website of the car dealership.
In August, police were also able to locate the RV using Chavez’s Instagram account. Chavez posted photos in March celebrating the purchase of 17 acres in Devers, a small town in Liberty County.
The Instagram post included a map showing where the parcel of land was located and selling papers that showed its address.
According to the affidavit, police found a tractor and a trailer that looked identical to those purchased from Alvin and League City. Both vehicles were seized by police who obtained a warrant. According to the affidavit, the serial numbers of both vehicles corresponded with the vehicles purchased in the two stores.
Chavez is charged with stealing an RV from a dealership and using victims’ names and personal information to purchase it.
Chavez was taken to Galveston County Jail after being arrested in Houston. Chavez was being held on a $300,000.00 bond and was still in custody Friday afternoon, the report added.