Couple Caught Trying to Buy Mercedes in Rahway Using Woman's ID, AG Says

Rahway, NJ - This couple was arrested in Rahway earlier this year, where they tried to buy a Mercedes Benz S550 using a Nevada woman's identity, the acting New Jersey Attorney General said.

Edina Padilla, 25, and Cody Tyson, 23, who currently live together in Bayonne, were arrested on Jan. 29 at DZ Motors in Rahway.

The couple was in the process of completing paperwork to secure an $86,848 car loan using the identity of a Nevada woman so they could purchase a 2015 Mercedes Benz S550, state prosecutors said.

The Nevada woman was alerted by LifeLock that someone was trying to use her identity to buy a car in New Jersey, and she telephoned the Rahway police, who responded to the dealership and arrested the couple. Padilla allegedly denied having identification in the name of the Nevada woman, but an officer noticed a Maryland driver’s license from Padilla that was in the name of the Nevada woman, but had a photo of Padilla.

The vehicle that Tyson and Padilla drove to the car dealership was impounded by the police, but both defendants denied having keys to it. Later, however, an officer saw Tyson trying to hide keys while in a police holding cell and took custody of them.

The tow operator later found a 9mm handgun in the vehicle’s center console and alerted police. A detective seized the gun, which was loaded with bullets, including some hollow nose bullets, the AG's office said.