Leon County Businessman Sentenced To Federal Prison

Bobby Edward Tubb, 31-year-old owner of Tubb Collision in Centerville, TX, will spend 51 months in federal prison for his involvement in the falsification and removal of vehicle identification numbers (VINs), announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw and Leon County Sheriff Kevin Ellis.  

In addition to the prison term handed down late yesterday afternoon in Waco, U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr., ordered that Tubb pay a $1,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. 

On January 9, 2014, Tubb pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the falsification and removal of VINs.  According to court documents, since 2010, Tubb directed his half-brother and employee, 24-year-old Johnathan Harvey Nicholas, to remove or alter identification numbers from vehicles at Tubb Collision. 

During the investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at a storage unit in Flynn, TX, being rented by Nicholas using an alias.  The unit contained a stolen vehicle, which had previously been in the possession of Tubb, as well as numerous vehicle parts from new vehicles, such as dashes, door panels and steering columns.  Many of these component parts had their VIN and/or vehicle traceability numbers removed or altered.  Subsequently, authorities executed several other search warrants at various locations within Leon County which resulted in the discovery of approximately six (6) stolen vehicles and various vehicle component parts.  

On January 8, 2014, Judge Smith sentenced Nicholas to one year and one day in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered that he pay a $500 fine for his role in the scheme. 

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Mary Kucera prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.