Five arrests have been made by the Kingsville Police Department in an 11-month investigation of a car title loan business.

According to a press release, KPD took a report from the local business in May 2009 after an internal investigation revealed that employees had been making false loan transactions and forging car titles and loan applications.

The subsequent police investigation revealed that an employee included friends and family members in the scam.

Misdemeanor warrants were issued in early April and the Grand Jury handed down felony indictments on April 22. All fivesuspects were arrested by Kingsville police on Tuesday.

Those arrested include: Michelle Lomas, 30, for theft (State Jail Felony), tampering with governmental record (3rd Degree Felony), and engaging in organized criminal activity (3rdDegree Felony).

Javier Amaya, 37, for engaging in organized criminal activity (State Jail Felony) and theft (Class A Misdemeanor).

Reynaldo Perez, 61, for theft (Class A Misdemeanor).

Monica Mirelez, 34, for theft (Class B Misdemeanor), engaging in organized criminal activity (Class A Misdemeanor), and motion to revoke (Forgery) (Felony).

Venessa Muirhead, 36, for theft (Class A Misdemeanor).

“If the internal audit would not have caught the irregularities, the loans would not have been paid back and the business would have attempted to collect loan payments from people that don’t exist” Kingsville Police Detective Tony Gonzales said.

It is unknown how long these thefts have been occurring and the investigation may expand in the near future.