Documents: El Paso tax office deputy accused of entering fake vehicle inspection dates
UPDATE (Oct. 6, 2026): ABC-7 obtained arrest affidavits detailing Jessica Marie Alonzo’s accused crimes. Monday, she was arrested and charged with 10 counts of tampering with government records, according to the El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office (TAC).
An investigation into an unlawful vehicle title and registration scheme led to her arrest. Documents said the investigation happened July of this year with the El Paso TAC Enforcement Division.
Alonzo allegedly entered false inspection dates during transactions to bypass state inspection and emissions requirements.
Jessica Marie Alonzo’s mugshot.(Courtesy: EPCSO)
Documents said Alonzo also went by Jessica Barraza and Alonzo-Barraza. Investigators said she worked at the El Paso Auto Registration and Titling (EPART), which is a full-service deputy office for the TAC.
She allegedly approved vehicle registration renewals and title transfer transactions without proper documentation. Documents said she manually overrode the registration and titling system (RTS).
How RTS works
Investigators spoke with the assistant motor vehicle registration and titling director for the TAC, who explained the RTS vehicle renewal process.
Documents said clerks have to obtain vehicle’s information by entering information, like a plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN). Clerks must review information, and can do so through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
If no vehicle inspection report (VIR) is provided, the clerk has to terminate the transaction until proper documentation is found. Clerks can get VIRs through the RTS or the customer. Clerks can also manually enter VIR information. Once valid information is in, RTS will finalize the transaction and generate a new vehicle registration.
Alonzo’s transaction records
Investigators asked for Alonzo’s VIRs and learned she altered 381 transactions from July 2025 to July 2026. Documents broke those down into 327 registration renewals and 54 title transfers:
Four transactions with expired VIR less than 12 months 225 expired VIRs between 12-36 months 43 expired VIRs 37-48 months 22 expired VIRs 48+ months Six failed VIRs Eight with no Texas VIR history 73 with current VIRsABC-7 obtained documents detailing nine of 10 incidents related to Alonzo’s tampering with government records charges.
July 2025
On July 26, 2025, Alonzo approved a title transfer for a 2014 Nissan, documents said. The vehicle failed its last inspection on July 25, 2025. Alonzo allegedly made a fake TSI entry dated July 26, 2025.
August 2025
Documents said that on Aug. 26, 2025, Alonzo did a transaction for a 2013 Infiniti for a Socorro resident. Like the previous vehicles, this one didn’t have a record of a Texas inspection. Alonzo allegedly entered a fake TSI date for Aug. 26, 2025.
January 2026
Alonzo allegedly approved a title transfer for a 2019 Buick on Jan. 13, 2026. Documents said the Buick failed inspection on Jan. 11. Alonzo allegedly entered a passing inspection date of Jan. 13, finalized the transaction and issued the owner registration.
February
Documents said Alonzo did a title transfer for a 2013 Toyota. TCEQ records said the vehicle didn’t have any Texas inspection history. Alonzo allegedly entered an emissions-only inspection (EMONLY) date of Feb. 17, 2026.
On Feb. 21, 2026, she allegedly entered a fake EMONLY inspection date of Feb. 19 for a 2009 Nissan.
April
On April 2, 2026, Alonzo allegedly approved a title transfer for a 2010 GMC that didn’t have a Texas inspection history. Documents said she manually entered a fake EMONLY inspection date of April 2 and issued registration.
According to documents, on April 13, 2026, Alonzo approved a title transfer for a 2006 Chevrolet registered under an El Paso resident. Records said the vehicle didn’t have any inspections recorded in Texas. Alonzo allegedly made a false entry or alteration of a government record by manually putting an EMONLY inspection date of April 13. Documents said she finalized the transaction and issued the owner valid Texas registration.
June
On June 8, 2026, Alonzo allegedly approved a title transfer for a 2013 Chevrolet. TCEQ records noted the vehicle didn’t have any inspections recorded in Texas. Documents said she entered an inspection date of June 8 and marked it as an EMONLY inspection. She allegedly finalized the transaction and issued the vehicle owner a valid registration.
On June 23, 2026, Alonzo allegedly finalized a transaction for a 2012 Ford that didn’t have any Texas inspection history. She manually entered an inspection date of June 23 as a Texas State Inspection (TSI).
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso County tax office deputy has been charged with 10 counts of tampering with government records following her arrest Monday. The El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office said an investigation into an alleged unlawful vehicle title and registration scheme led to her arrest.
Jessica Marie Alonzo is a deputy with an authorized contract office, the tax assessor-collector’s office said.
Jessica Marie Alonzo’s mugshot.(Courtesy: EPCSO)
The Enforcement Division of the El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office made the arrest Monday.
Investigators learned that Alonzo allegedly bypassed Texas inspection and emissions requirements by altering records in the state’s vehicle registration system. The tax assessor-collector’s office said vehicles that didn’t pass state-mandated inspections and emissions tests were fraudulently registered. Alonzo also allegedly charged a set fee for the illegally processed transactions.
Records said Alonzo altered records for more than 380 transactions for vehicles without a state inspection record or had no inspections as far back as July 2013, the office said. Records said it happened between July 2025 and July 2026.
Investigators also found Zelle records where Alonzo collected thousands in payments, the office said. It’s unclear whether every payment was connected to the alleged fraud.
Authorities booked Alonzo into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a $50,000 bond.
The tax assessor-collector’s office announced Alonzo’s arrest and charges through a news release. In it, it provided the following statement:
The Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office has a responsibility to protect the integrity of governmental records, safeguard the vehicle title and registration process, and maintain the confidence of the residents it serves. When allegations of criminal activity involving a deputy came to the attention of the office, the Enforcement Division pursued the matter through a clear and concise investigation that ultimately resulted in the filing of criminal charges.
Click here to follow the original article.