A Philadelphia man has been charged with forgery after a traffic stop near the turnpike.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Justin Swartz of the Pennsylvania State Police, Lehighton barracks, in the case against Brandon Jones:

On Nov. 27, police saw a Silver Toyota RAV 4 with a camera defeating registration cover exit the Turnpike and go through the toll plaza onto Route 209.

Swartz stopped the vehicle at Route 209 and Wagner Street.

Jones, 42, the driver provided his Pennsylvania license. He said he just got the vehicle and was going to register it, and added he just got the car a couple weeks before that.

Swartz asked Jones who the vehicle was registered to and he then unfolded a New Jersey title and related another name, and that the registration plate on the vehicle belonged to him and was from his F-350 and that he did not have insurance on the vehicle yet.

Swartz then asked Jones why he had the plate cover on the vehicle, and he said it was so people would stop stealing his plate. Jones’ license was currently suspended with a police pickup order.

The VIN listed on the New Jersey title was not having any results out of New Jersey and had an issue date of Aug. 30, 2023. A check of the VIN throughout all 50 states provided a response out of California Motor Vehicles which indicated the Toyota was last titled out of California and on Oct. 3, 2023, the vehicle was wrecked, and a salvage certificate was issued on Nov. 27, 2023.

The vehicle was then sold to Quality Quick Auto in Rancho-Cordova, California, while the registration plate information Jones provided came back to a Ford truck registered to him.

The Toyota was towed from the scene by All Points Towing, and Jones was released from the stop and obtained a ride from a ride share company that arrived on scene.

Swartz removed the registration plate and cover and found the registration plate was a painted piece of metal not issued by PennDOT, with clear tape and white tape covering parts of the registration.

Jones related the title belonged to the dashboard and he changed the dashboard out due to it being damaged, and added that the place he purchased the dashboard from provided the title to him.

The vehicle had two VINs on the vehicle and the one on the Pennsylvania document Jones provided did match the VIN on the door.

Swartz contacted the New Jersey Department of Transportation who provided a copy of the fraudulent title that was seized and responded with documentation the same day. They were able to confirm the title provided was fraudulent and that title information belonged to the correct owner listed, but the correct vehicle was a silver 2005 Dodge Caravan/Grand.

Jones faces charges on two counts each of altered, forged, or counterfeit documents and plates, violations of use of certificate of inspection, and one count each of forgery, alteration of destruction of VIN, fare evasions, display plate card in improper vehicle, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, surrender registration plates/cards on suspended or revoked registration plate or card, operating vehicle without valid inspection, prohibition on expenditures for emission inspection program, driving while operating privilege suspended or revoked, operating vehicle with Pennsylvania expired registration.