By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Federal, state and local law enforcement officials raided a Del Rio used car dealership about 10:40 a.m. Thursday.
A Homeland Security Investigations team, Texas Department of Public Safety investigators and Department of Motor Vehicles investigators; Del Rio Police and Fire Departments and Del Rio code enforcement officers participated in a raid at Autos Usados
(Photo by Joel Langton)
Ivan, located at the corner of Bowie and San Felipe St.
According to state statutes, when a dealership opens, the owner signs an agreement with the Department of Motor Vehicles that inspectors can visit the establishment and review records at any time.
Law enforcement officials reached out to DMV investigations and asked them to visit the business and much of the law enforcement community went with them.
According to Adam Shaivitz, a Media and Communications Officer for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the business is owned by Rodolfo Ramos Gallegos.
The DMV spokesperson was pretty tight-lipped but did confirm that there was an ongoing investigation into the business.
He said if issues were found, options could include a civil penalty (monetary fine), and in more serious cases, license revocation.
The law enforcement entities were gone in less than two hours but two members of Del Rio’s code enforcement team helping guide the business in their next steps stayed several hours longer.
Following the raid, there was an orange sticker on the business that said “this establishment has been found to be uninhabitable and dangerous structure.”
Gilberto Hernandez Soto, an employee of the business, said one of the agencies took a trailer and two car dollies from the dealer when they left because of problems with the titles.
“There were several groups here and each one was looking at issues in their lane,” said John Atnipp, Del Rio’s neighborhood services director.
One of the items the code enforcement officers and business staff came to an agreement about was the number of cars parked around the building. The business moved them away from the street and inside the business’ fence.
Hernandez said they were now focused on their building, trying to get it back in shape.
“When they left, they took no cars. This is just part of our business,” he said. “They say we have to fix some things. No problem.”
The list of corrections to be made includes mold, water damage, no certificate of occupancy and structural problems were some of the city’s concerns.
“It will take a while,” said Atnipp. “They’re not going to run down to the (city’s) annex and get it reopened right away.”
However, another investigator on the scene said there was one item that raised a red flag for investigators.
“There’s mattresses in the office, clothes, like people are living there, but there is nothing for running a business, no office equipment, no desks, nothing,” he said. “It’s just interesting.”
The writer can be reached at JoelALangton@gmail.com .
