On December 9, 2024, Minneapolis Police Officers responded to the Fourth Precinct front desk to take a stolen vehicle report. The reporting parties L. P. And E. V., stated to Officers that they saw a black Ford 150 for sale on Facebook Marketplace and wanted to purchase it. L. P. And E. V. Primarily speak Spanish. L. P. Spoke with a male later identified as PERRY LOUIS ROWE, Defendant herein. The Defendant appeared to be an employee of Prestige Towing and Recovery, LLC. On July 16, 2024, L. P. And the Defendant met at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County.
L. P. Paid the Defendant $6,500 in cash for the vehicle. The Defendant gave L. P. The title to the vehicle and two sets of keys. L. P. And E. V. Went to the DMV to transfer the title but were advised by DVS that there was an unspecified issue with the title. DVS did not state that the vehicle was listed as stolen. L. P. Contacted the Defendant and informed him of the issues transferring the title and insisted that the Defendant go to the DMV with L. P. To resolve the issue. The Defendant refused to assist L. P. The Defendant then began making threatening statements to L. P. And L. P.'s family.
L. P. Was fearful of retaliation due to the Defendant knowing where L. P. Lived from filling out the title paperwork. The Defendant specifically threatened to damage L. P.'s property and assault L. P. If L. P. Made a police report. A vehicle that was at L. P.'s home was then damaged on October 5, 2024. L. P. Provided Officers with screenshots of the conversations between L. P. And the Defendant. L. P. Also provided Officers with the Defendant's Facebook profile. Officers investigated the name on the Defendant's Facebook profile and learned that he has been named in several similar vehicle theft situations.
The Defendant picks up legitimate vehicles that are in need of being repossessed through Prestige Towing and Recovery, LLC. Instead of turning over the vehicle to the lienholder and being paid the approximately $500 contingency fee, the Defendant sells the vehicle through Facebook Marketplace for thousands of dollars in cash. The Defendant does not advise the lienholder that the vehicle has been recovered. The victims of these cases appear to all have English as a second language and are not aware of the Defendant's scheme.
The vehicles are then reported stolen by the owner/debtor because the lienholder never receives the vehicle. The victims who believe they are the owner of the vehicle then have the vehicle's taken by Officers who are recovering the stolen vehicle. The victims are then out the cash they paid for the vehicle and the vehicle. The owner/debtor of the vehicle that is being repossessed is then also a victim of having their vehicles stolen. The Defendant is charged with almost an identical schemed crime in pending cases ••-CR-••-••••, 27- CR-25-5272, and ••-CR-••-••••. L. P. Also provided Officers with a video that he took during the vehicle purchasing process where the Defendant is present in the video.
