On May 1, 2026, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Task Force, assisted by the East Patrol Command Crime Reduction Unit, K9 units and the Texas Department of Public Safety, conducted an interdiction operation involving the sale of a stolen vehicle with a fraudulent title.
Investigators were working an ongoing auto theft and fraud case in Montgomery County when they learned a suspect planned to attempt a fraudulent vehicle sale that day. Following a traffic stop of the vehicle in question, 27-year-old Dillard Joseph Davis was taken into custody without incident.
At the time of his arrest, Davis was wearing a GPS ankle monitor issued by Harris County in connection with prior felony charges. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with forgery of a government document.
Officials said the arrest and recovery of the vehicle are part of a larger, ongoing fraud and auto theft investigation in Montgomery County.
Authorities are urging residents to use caution when purchasing vehicles online. Buyers should verify that the seller matches the name on the title and confirm the vehicle identification number through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Officials also recommend being wary of sellers who only provide a phone number or advertise through social media, and suggest obtaining a vehicle history report through services such as Carfax, AutoCheck or VINAudit. Whenever possible, buyers should purchase from reputable dealerships.
The Montgomery County Auto Theft Task Force is partially funded and trained by the Texas Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.