Man Arrested at DMV While Attempting to Obtain Title Using Fraudulent Documents

Manchester – On May 3, 2023, members of New Hampshire State Police Troop G were conducting salvage inspections at the Division of Motor Vehicles in Manchester. In the course of their duties, Troopers were made aware of an individual, later identified as Joel Panigua, age 35, of Methuen, Massachusetts, who was attempting to submit fraudulent documents for the purpose of obtaining a New Hampshire motor vehicle title.

Panigua was taken into custody without incident and charged with two counts of Tampering with Public Records and one count of Unsworn Falsification. Panigua will be arraigned in the 9th Circuit Court – District Division – Manchester on June 12, 2023, at 8:00 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 Lieutenant James O’Leary at James.G.Oleary@dos.nh.gov.