Two places tripped up FPD officer with stolen truck, prosecutors say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Prosecutors revealed new evidence Wednesday in the case of a now-former Fresno police officer allegedly caught in a stolen car caper. They say he took the truck two places that came back to bite him.

The beginning of the end of a career in law enforcement started at the DMV in January 2014. After fighting the long lines, Alfred Campos turned in a form to take ownership of a used pickup truck.

"This form used and the purchase price is specifically used for the person applying to the DMV - in this case specifically Mr. Campos - to tell to the DMV the purchase price of the vehicle?" prosecutor Robert Mangano asked retired DMV clerk Linda Huerta.

"That's correct," Huerta replied. "And then they sign at the bottom that it's true."

Campos claimed it was a 2011 Chevy Silverado and said he paid $3000 for it. Truth is, the truck was really a 2008 Silverado and it had been stolen in Virginia. But even now, Kelley Blue Book says the truck would sell for much more than three grand.

And on further review, DMV clerks thought the application looked fishy.

"It looked unusually big," Huerta said of the typed letters on the application.

"Suspicious?" asked defense attorney Yan Shrayberman.

"Yes. Uh huh," Huerta said. "Also, knowing that he was of law enforcement, I just, you know, I put the two together and was like 'Maybe it's just me'."

A day later, Campos took the truck to Michael Chevrolet for repairs. GM computers said the 2011 Silverado needed recall repairs, but a look under the hood revealed a problem.

"Something's not making sense," said Michael Chevrolet service manager Brian Hubbard. "So that's when I re-looked at the paperwork and that's when I found out the VIN (vehicle identification number) didn't match the vehicle."

Officers say Campos knew it was a fake. He owned his own repair shop, and he checked on the VIN twice using the special access he had as a police officer.

But after a yearlong investigation, Campos lost his job with Fresno police. His defense attorneys say the entire investigation was a conspiracy by three officers to take him down.

The guy who sold him the car is expected to testify before a judge decides what charges Campos should face at trial.