Connect with us

Nevada

Las Vegas VIN-switching ring busted from cars stolen in Florida

Published

on

Las Vegas VIN-switching ring busted from cars stolen in Florida


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Nevada DMV Compliance Division busted a family run business of switching out VIN numbers in cars Thursday.

Acosta Hernandez was charged with two counts of possession of stolen vehicle and two counts of possession of vehicle with altered VIN.

This was a crime that started across the country and landed in Las Vegas.

The DMV Compliance Division invited FOX5 exclusively to come along as officers made their arrests. The two SUV’s in question were stolen out of Florida.

Advertisement

“The detective in the jurisdiction of where the vehicles were stolen identified that the vehicles might be in Nevada,” Chief J.D. Decker with the Nevada DMV Compliance Division said.

Decker’s team was able to track down the cars.

“We followed the vehicle to a residence and tied the residence to the people we are looking at,” Decker said.

After receiving a tip from the National Insurance Crime Bureau that these cars had their VIN numbers switched out, Decker knew they had to act fast. This ring is operated by two brothers.

“The longer we wait, the more chances they dispose the vehicles or take them out of state. Then, we lose the evidence against them,” Decker said.

Advertisement

Decker’s team put together an arrest warrant Wednesday with the hopes of catching the culprits the next day.

As soon as officers arrived to the house, FOX5 camera’s captured the garage doors opening. This led law enforcement to swarm in as Hernandez came out, but his brother was no where to be found.

Two other women at the home seemed to have no idea what was going on.

However, at the property there were two of those SUVs on site with Florida license plates.

“They are definitely in position of two solen vehicles,” Decker said. He says this illegal operation can be very profitable.

Advertisement

“So if you stole it, and got it for free, you could probably sell for a hundred thousand each,” Decker said.

Police also tell FOX5 they also found drugs, and thousands of dollars of cash and credit card swiping machines inside the house.

Decker said it is important for the public to know what they should look at for when purchasing a vehicle in a private sale, as law enforcement will impound a car once they know it is stolen.

According to Decker, here is what you can to do protect yourself if you plan on buying a car in a private sale:

  • Both buyer and seller should meet at a DMV
  • Utilize the DMV’s VIN inspection system
  • Make sure car title matches the seller’s name.



Source link

Advertisement

Nevada

Nevada high school football head coach steps down

Published

on

Nevada high school football head coach steps down


Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.

Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.

“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”

During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.

Advertisement

Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Mojave High School

Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.

For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nevada

IN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada

Published

on

IN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada


A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.

Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.

What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.

The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.

Advertisement

So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.

I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.

Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.

Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Nevada

Las Vegas High beats Coronado in 5A baseball — PHOTOS

Published

on

Las Vegas High beats Coronado in 5A baseball — PHOTOS