Man Arrested for Attempting to Obtain Title Using Fraudulent Documents

CONCORD, New Hampshire - On Monday, September 18, 2023, members of the New Hampshire State Police Troop G Investigations Unit arrested Joel PANIAGUA, age 35, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, owner of Henriquez Auto Sales of Salem, New Hampshire.  Investigators received information that PANIAGUA was attempting to submit fraudulent documents for the purpose of obtaining a New Hampshire motor vehicle title, during a salvage inspection, at the Manchester Division of Motor Vehicles, on March 22, 2023.

An arrest warrant was obtained, and PANIAGUA was taken into custody without incident in Concord and charged with Tampering with Public Records or Information.  He will be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court – District Division – Manchester on October 16, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.

A salvage inspection is conducted on vehicles that have been classified as a total loss by an insurance company and have subsequently been repaired. Upon completion of such inspection, a decal is affixed to the vehicle denoting that it is salvaged, and a new Title is issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Craig Gagne at Craig.D.Gagne@dos.nh.gov.