Mexican cartels are stealing rental cars. The strategy is simple. They recruit a U.S. citizen or someone in the U.S. with a visa. Then, they urge that person to rent a car and get a full Collision Damage Waiver with car theft protection. After that, they hand over the keys to a cartel member. That member smuggles the vehicle across the border. A successful model born in Mexico City was involved in the conspiracy too.

The rental theft epidemic is severe. The company that owns Enterprise, National, and Alamo reported, “In fiscal year 23–24 alone, over 100 unrecovered vehicles from its Houston and San Antonio regions were confirmed by license plate readers as crossing the border. Over 70% of those vehicles had an active CDW, leaving rental companies with no recourse for recovery.”

The problem is serious enough that Texas lawmakers have suggested a law change. You could be financially liable for a “stolen” rental car if you can’t at least hand over the keys.

Model sentenced for conspiracy to steal rental cars

Raul Zamora, a model born in Mexico City, received a 12-month prison sentence. He participated in a conspiracy to steal rental cars. Zamora has appeared at London Fashion Week. He represented Burberry and Louis Vuitton. He also appeared in the Mexican edition of Vogue magazine. According to the judge, he was tempted by easy money.

On July 7, he used a fake name to rent a 2025 GMC Yukon. On July 8, he rented a 2025 Jeep Wrangler. He drove at least one of the vehicles to Texas. On July 11, he flew to Monterrey, Mexico. Hertz recovered the Jeep in Texas, but the GMC’s last known location was Tamaulipas, Mexico. U.S. Homeland Security agents later arrested him at the Hidalgo port of entry in Texas.

The criminal complaint says Zamora “admitted that the intention was to bring the GMC and JEEP to McAllen, Texas…then export the GMC and JEEP to Mexico on behalf of other co-conspirators.”

The government canceled Zamora’s O-1 visa. He said his co-conspirators visited his home in Mexico and pushed him to rent more cars. In addition, Zamora “claimed he felt he had no other choice.” He went to the Hidalgo port of entry to “inquire about the state of his visa.”

Court statement and sentencing

Reading a statement in court, Zamora said, “First of all, I would like to begin by asking the United States government to forgive me,” and concluded, “I know I have made a grave mistake.”

He was found guilty. The U.S. Sentencing Commission suggested 12 to 18 months. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane said, “I’m sorry you got involved.” He sentenced Zamora to 12 months and one day in prison.