News Summary
College Station police have successfully resolved a case of theft involving a stolen Corvette. The investigation revealed a fraudulent car loan scheme that began when the victim was alerted about unauthorized use of personal information. The suspect, Jeffrey Simpson, was arrested after the car was found. Charges include felony theft and fraudulent use of identifying information, alongside existing warrants for similar offenses. Meanwhile, other community news includes a burn ban in Brazos County due to drought and the arrest of a former official for misappropriating funds.
Corvette Theft Bust in College Station
Good news for the folks in College Station! The local police have wrapped up a perplexing case of theft by deception involving a slick Corvette heist that had everyone buzzing earlier this year. It all started back in March 2023 when a dealership reported a stolen Corvette, leading them on quite a wild goose chase!
How It All Began
The drama unfolded when a 65-year-old man received an unexpected call from a credit monitoring company. They alerted him that his personal information was being used to secure a car loan without his knowledge. The man wasted no time and quickly sent a copy of his driver’s license to the dealership. As it turns out, he is a White man who had been caught in a scam that was pretty shocking. The dealership discovered that the suspect used the victim’s name, date of birth, and address but had a driver’s license featuring a Black man’s photo. Talk about a twist!
The Investigation Unfolds
Thanks to some prompt detective work by the College Station Police Department (CSPD), along with help from the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force, the pieces began to fall into place. The suspect had also made matters worse by using the victim’s social security number for an online loan application—just when you thought things couldn’t get any wilder! It turned out that the suspect, who was later identified as 62-year-old Jeffrey Simpson from Burleson, indicated that the stolen Corvette was parked at an apartment complex in Fort Worth.
Corvette Recovered!
When the authorities located the Corvette, a sense of relief washed over the dealership and the 65-year-old man. Shortly after, they arrested Simpson, who now faces serious charges including felony theft and fraudulent use of identifying information. As of March 11, 2023, Simpson was behind bars in Brazos County Jail, with a hefty bond set at $185,000. Unsurprisingly, he isn’t exactly a newcomer to the law, as he has existing warrants for similar offenses lurking in Grayson and Lamar counties, situated near the Oklahoma border.
What’s Happening Elsewhere in College Station?
While the Corvette story wraps up, other news in College Station is equally fascinating. For one, Brazos County commissioners have decided to implement a 30-day burn ban due to dire drought conditions. Thankfully, emergency management coordinator Jason Ware shared that the county has been free of wildfires over the past week, giving residents a little breather amidst the concerns.
Money Mystery Resolved
In a completely unrelated incident, Shad Collins, a former president of the Brazos Valley Softball Umpires Association, was arrested on March 7, 2023. His arrest came after a two-year investigation unveiled that he had misappropriated over $15,000 during a four-month period in 2022. Collins had utilized his check-writing authority to carry out this scheme, which only emerged once the association reported missing deposits and odd checks. After being removed from his position in late 2022, he now finds himself behind bars with a bond of $30,000.
Get Involved with Your Community!
In a positive spin, the city encourages all its residents to contribute their ideas and suggestions for a five-year plan dedicated to federally funded programs for low to moderate-income individuals. With an annual average of $1.5 million coming into the city for housing, social services, and public facilities, it’s a perfect opportunity for residents to make their voices heard. An online survey is available until March 21, 2023, and there’s even a public hearing scheduled for March 18 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, making it easy for everyone to jump in and share their thoughts.
With so much happening, it’s indeed an exciting time for College Station residents! Stay tuned for more updates as the community continues to navigate through these ups and downs.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- The Eagle: Crime & Courts
- Wikipedia: Identity Theft
- The Eagle: Missing Car Case
- Google Search: Corvette Theft
- The Eagle: Burn Ban
- Google Scholar: Car Theft Investigation
- The Eagle: Sports Association Arrest
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Auto Crime
- The Eagle: Community Engagement Survey
- Google News: College Station Corvette Theft
Author: STAFF HERE COLLEGE WRITER
The COLLEGE STATION STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECollegeStation.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in College Station, Brazos County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo, Chilifest, and Aggie Muster. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Brazos Valley, plus leading businesses in education, biotechnology, and retail that power the local economy such as Texas A&M University, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and H-E-B. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
