HOUSTON – Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 44, who was convicted of selling fraudulent Texas license plates, is now on the run after failing to report for her 30-month federal prison sentence. Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in May 2023 and was sentenced to 30 months in prison, as well as ordered to pay over $316,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Lopez, along with her co-conspirators, utilized the internet to illegally buy and sell fraudulent state-issued buyer tags across the U.S., including New York and Washington, D.C. They also submitted fake information to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, enabling them to obtain a fraudulent car dealer license. The proceeds from these illegal transactions were funneled through electronic payment platforms like Cash App and Zelle.
Lopez was scheduled to report to federal prison by 2 p.m. on April 9, 2024, but authorities say she failed to do so. The FBI, in cooperation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, is now actively searching for Lopez. She is considered a fugitive with an outstanding arrest warrant.
If apprehended, Lopez could face an additional five years in federal prison on top of her current sentence. Anyone with information regarding Lopez’s whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI’s Houston office at 713-693-5000.
