Three Arrested, One Wanted in Alleged Harris County Vehicle Registration Bribery Scheme

Three arrests and one fugitive were announced after Harris County detectives say a bribery scheme funneled tens of thousands of dollars to former tax-office employees who processed fraudulent vehicle registrations and title transfers at the Scarsdale branch. Authorities identified the arrested defendants as Renisha Touche Wilkins, 35; Sarah Ambria Anderson, 31; and Adriana De La Rosa, 43, and say Oswaldo “Oz” Perez, 51, remains wanted. The arrests and charges were announced by local law enforcement on Feb. 17, 2026.

Prosecutors charged each defendant with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. The statute cited by investigators carries possible penalties of up to 99 years or life in prison and fines up to $10,000 per count. Wilkins, Anderson and De La Rosa were taken into custody; investigators continue to seek Perez and ask anyone with information to call the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office Special Investigations Unit at (713) 755-5200.

Detectives allege Wilkins and Anderson accepted cash and digital payments to override checks in the Texas Registration Titling System and to bypass required proof-of-insurance, emissions and residency verifications. Investigators documented payments via Zelle, Apple Pay and Cash App and say some vehicles were improperly marked tax-exempt or assigned Harris County addresses and zip codes to avoid fees. Houston investigators say Bella’s Multiservices, operated in South Houston by De La Rosa and Perez, advertised registration stickers and title services on TikTok and Facebook with posts promising to “save customers from ‘unnecessary fees’” and “no inspection[s] needed.”

Accounts differ on the scope of the transactions investigators allege. County detectives say Wilkins processed 96 fraudulent transactions while Anderson handled at least 10; a separate accounting from investigators cites nearly 200 fraudulent transactions at the Scarsdale branch. Investigators also allege owners of Bella’s Multiservices paid Wilkins and Anderson “tens of thousands of dollars” in bribes, and Anderson allegedly charged about $300 per illicit transaction.

The case was flagged after employees in another Texas county noticed Bella’s Multiservices advertising registration stickers for sale and alerted authorities, prompting the Texas DMV to notify the Harris County tax office and triggering an internal audit. Detectives with Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen’s Tax Special Investigations Unit documented communications, text-message exchanges and payment records before advancing charges; investigators say the alleged scheme ran from at least November 2023 through April 2024 and both tax-office employees were fired in April 2024.

Constable Alan Rosen framed the allegations as a breach of public trust, saying, “This involves public corruption by those who violated the people's trust in government and abused their positions to line their own pockets.” An investigator involved in the probe, Kwok, added, “These types of corruption tend to be very hidden. They tend to be secretive. They thrive in secrecy.”