Bexar County Deputies have apprehended a man for orchestrating a fraudulent food truck scheme, which resulted in scamming 28 individuals out of $186,000. Sheriff Javier Salazar issued a public alert, urging victims of the "Tu Trailita" scam to come forward.
Miguel Angel Cuellar Lopez, 57, is facing charges of Theft of $2,500-$30,000, a State Felony, and Theft of $30,000-$150,000, a Third-Degree Felony. His son, Miguel Angel Cuellar Martinez Jr, 32, who is currently evading arrest, will also face identical charges. Sheriff Salazar anticipes additional charges for the duo.
Sheriff Salazar revealed that Lopez operated the scam by renting a parking lot, convincing victims they were purchasing custom food trucks. Victims were allowed to choose features, make payments, and were later coerced into providing additional funds under the pretense of completing the build. The sheriff suspects there might be more victims yet to come forward.
Sheriff Salazar stated, “I don’t know if these people ever actually built a single trailer, I think they were in the business of ripping people off.”
The father-and-son team operated "Tu Trailita," targeting individuals aspiring to establish their food truck businesses by promising to sell or repair food trucks.
The business operated from a sub-leased parking lot adjacent to Interstate 35 and Division Avenue, owned by a legitimate used car dealership. The duo would collect down payments, delay delivery, demand more money, and fail to deliver the promised trailers.
In some instances, they offered to repair broken food trucks for customers, refurbished them, sold them to other businesses, and retained the profits.
Sheriff Salazar emphasized that victims, particularly immigrants, should not hesitate to report crimes, as legal protections are in place in certain cases.
“These are people not looking for a hand-out... They’re looking to make a living through hard work,” Salazar said.
The case was brought to the attention of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office by LULAC, a prominent Latino civil rights organization.
Individuals who believe they were scammed by "Tu Trailita" are urged to contact the Bexar Sheriff's Office at (210) 335-000.
