Fraudster sentenced for nationwide scheme to sell thousands of fake Texas paper vehicle tags

US Department of Justice, Southern District of Texas, August 21, 2024

HOUSTON — 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 Nov. 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 actually sold.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Christine-Tani to serve 93 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Christine-Tani and others engaged in a 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 offense 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.

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