OTHELLO – A federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington has indicted Reynaldo Valdez Garza Jr., 52, Othello, on five counts of odometer tampering. Garza made his initial court appearance Sept. 9, 2024, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Washington. 

The indictment alleges that from May 2023 onward, Garza engaged in a scheme to acquire high mileage used cars, tamper with or replace their odometers to display significantly lower mileage, and subsequently sell these vehicles to unsuspecting buyers at inflated prices, according to the USAO. In some instances, the indictment claims, Garza rolled back odometers by more than 100,000 miles.

According to the allegations in the USAO press release, Garza also manipulated the Bill of Sale paperwork by waiting for buyers to sign their section before altering the seller’s information and the reported mileage.

“The purchase of a vehicle is often one of the largest financial commitments people make. It is important that buyers have confidence in the information they receive when deciding which vehicle to purchase,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref, in the USAO press release. “My office is committed to protecting consumers from fraudsters who seek to cheat the system for their own gain.” 

This case is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin Curda.

An indictment merely constitutes an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.