Two people were charged with theft and fraud after allegedly falsifying and tampering with records when filing a false vehicle title during a transaction at Cranberry Messenger Service in Cranberry Township, according to police.

Joshua Connathan Holmes, 33, of Miami, Fla., and Alexis Dannielle Henderson, 40, of Morton, Pa., were arrested after Holmes knowingly sold a 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class to Henderson using a fraudulent Virginia title showing Holmes as the owner, according to charges filed by state police on Tuesday, Dec 17.

The transaction took place Feb 28. Holmes paid for the fees and taxes with a check in the amount of $5,274.22, but on March 5, Holmes stopped payment on the check, not allowing Cranberry Messenger Service to collect the fees for its service and the taxes it already had sent to PennDOT.

Holmes and Henderson were arrested for washing vehicle titles, burglary, theft by deception, theft of services, unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with public records, fraud alter/forge/counter title registration and possession/sale/use display documents.

Both are awaiting preliminary hearings before District Judge Kevin J. Flaherty. No information was available regarding whether Holmes and Henderson are in custody.