A 35-year-old Dallas man who formerly resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiring to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Daniel Rocky Christine-Tani pleaded guilty on November 29, 2023, to conspiring with others to buy and sell thousands of fraudulent Texas-issued temporary buyer tags for car sales when no cars were sold.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Christine-Tani to serve 93 months in federal prison, immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Christine-Tani and others engaged in widespread fraud to use fictitious car dealerships to generate and sell Texas temporary buyer tags without actually selling cars.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Christine-Tani committed the offence utilizing mass marketing and sophisticated means. Christine-Tani must also pay restitution to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $3,440,625.
Christine-Tani and co-conspirators used the internet to buy and sell the fraudulent state-issued buyer tags and exchange proceeds from the illegal tag sales.
At the time of his plea, Christine-Tani acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators used accounts on Google Mail, Instagram, and Facebook to receive and deliver fraudulent buyer tags to illegal sellers and to make purchases all over the United States.
He also admitted he and his co-conspirators received and shared fraud proceeds via electronic payment services such as Cash App and Zelle.
Christine-Tani was taken into custody following the sentencing hearing.
Emmanuel Padilla Reyes, aka Christian Hernandez Bonilla or Noel Rivera, is still a fugitive in this case. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information that directly leads to his arrest. Those with information about the fugitive’s location should call 1-800-call-FBI or email TIPS.FBI.GOV.
- Former Army Reservist Cody Francis Guilty of Conspiring to Steal Government Funds - September 30, 2024
- Alphonse Bazile, Rayshaud Green Jailed 180 Months for Firearms Offences - September 30, 2024
- Gretna Resident Felix Mackey Sentenced to 192 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine, Cocaine Hydrochloride, Cocaine Base Trafficking - September 30, 2024
