Suspect charged after allegedly using woman's identity in $99K Range Rover fraud, HPD says

Investigators are warning car dealerships to be aware.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston police are warning car dealerships to be on the lookout for the suspect charged with using someone else's identity to try to buy a luxury SUV worth more than $99,000.

Jonkese Rawlins was charged in August after the Houston Police Department said the suspect tried to purchase a Range Rover SUV using a woman's personal information at Central Houston Cadillac. Rawlins is charged with two felonies: false statement to obtain credit and fraudulent use of personal identifying information.

According to HPD, Rawlins used a woman's ID information to buy the Range Rover, which was valued at over $99,000. After the purchase, the dealership called Rawlins, who authorities say bought the car under the name Amanda Smith, and said the car needed a state inspection. When Rawlins showed up, police were waiting.

Rawlins is out on bond. Investigators are warning car dealerships to be aware and to reach out to them if they have had any issues with Rawlins.

Rawlins' attorney, Terrance Jewett of Jewett Legal Group, said his client maintains innocence.

"Our contention is that she is not committing this fraud," Jewett said. "She was looking to purchase and pay for the truck, but she was not in any intent or knowledge of committing fraud."

Central Houston Cadillac did not respond to a request for comment.

Alan Helfman, of River Oaks Chrysler, Dodge Jeep and Ram, said his dealership is not involved in the Rawlins case but that dealers often receive alerts from HPD to watch for fraud.

"You want to take a look at the whole picture and make sure you're doing the right stuff, the right person is getting the right car with the right amount of credit," Helfman said.

Helfman said dealers learn to watch for patterns.

"A lot of times they come in at, like, closing [at] 6 p.m. No down payment. They may use a credit, your credit… and maybe they don't have many lines of credit," Helfman said.

He said ignoring warning signs can have consequences.

"Any time you repudiate what the license machine is trying to tell you, you usually get bit," Helfman said. "I remember once I said, 'Oh, it's just the back of a driver's license, no big deal, put it through'… cops were showing up."