Presidio County sheriff’s deputies recovered three vehicles reported stolen from the Houston area after stopping a tractor-trailer headed toward the Texas-Mexico border, authorities said.
Deputies stopped the commercial vehicle in Presidio County after noticing expired temporary tags, according to Chief Deputy Joel Nuñez Jr. The trailer was carrying a 2025 Toyota RAV4, a 2015 Toyota Tacoma and a 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Investigators determined that the vehicles had fictitious vehicle identification numbers and had been reported stolen, Nuñez said. Authorities believe they were being transported toward Ojinaga, Chihuahua, before deputies intercepted the shipment.
The driver, identified as 55-year-old Bernardo Espinoza of Nicaragua, faces three counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a state jail felony, as well as charges related to tampering with vehicle identification numbers.
The tractor and trailers allegedly used to transport the vehicles were seized and will be held pending further legal proceedings.
The Presidio County Sheriff’s Office said U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the investigation.
Authorities did not immediately provide information about Espinoza’s bond or whether he had retained an attorney.
