Santa Fe Judge Awards Stolen Truck Resold on Facebook to State Agency Following Legal Dispute

A Santa Fe judge ruled that a stolen 2000 Chevrolet Silverado resold on Facebook Marketplace belongs to a state agency, ending a complex ownership dispute.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Santa Fe New Mexican.

A Dispute Over Contested Ownership

Ownership of a twenty-six year old pickup truck became a focal point of judicial deliberation this week in Santa Fe. The case involved a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado that was originally reported stolen before being sold through a popular social media platform. By the time authorities located the vehicle, it had passed into the hands of Rogelio Hernandez, who claimed he purchased the truck in good faith without knowledge of its illicit history. However, the legal complexities of vehicle title transfers and state seizure laws created a multifaceted conflict that required a definitive court ruling.

The Facebook Marketplace Sale

The truck was reportedly resold on Facebook Marketplace to Hernandez, who presented evidence of the transaction during the hearing. Such cases have become increasingly common as digital marketplaces facilitate rapid peer-to-peer sales often lacking the rigorous title verification found at traditional dealerships. Despite Hernandez’s claim that he was a victim of a fraudulent sale, the court had to weigh his interests against the statutory rights of the original owner and the state’s claim to the asset.

The Judicial Decision

After reviewing the evidence and the chain of custody, a Santa Fe judge ruled on Tuesday that the vehicle would be turned over to a New Mexico state agency. The decision centered on specific legal provisions regarding recovered stolen property and the status of vehicles that have had their identification numbers or titles tampered with during the period they were missing. While the ruling effectively leaves the subsequent buyer without the vehicle or a refund from the state, it fulfills the requirements of the Department of Public Safety’s current protocols for contested assets.