Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme

Authorities Allege Dozens of Vehicles Towed Without Lender Authorization and Titles Fraudulently Obtained

Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme

Paragould, AR – June 26, 2026 – The tow truck slowly backed into the driveway. Concerned, the borrower walked outside to meet the woman behind the wheel. Shown what appeared to be a legitimate repossession order, she assumed her lender had sent the truck and voluntarily surrendered the keys. Days later, when she discovered her vehicle in the hands of someone else, she realized she may have been the victim of something far different than a lawful repossession.

An Arkansas towing company owner is facing nearly 150 felony charges after investigators uncovered what they describe as an extensive scheme involving unauthorized vehicle seizures, falsified towing records and fraudulent title paperwork.

Heather Patterson, 45, owner of Prestige Towing in Paragould, was charged after Greene County investigators alleged she illegally took possession of dozens of vehicles while falsely representing many of them as legitimate repossessions or abandoned vehicles. A judge found probable cause this week on charges including second-degree forgery, false evidence of title or registration, theft of property, and falsifying business records.

The investigation began after one vehicle owner reported that Patterson arrived at her residence claiming she had been hired to repossess the vehicle. Believing the repossession had been ordered by her finance company, the owner voluntarily surrendered the keys.

Investigators later learned something was wrong when the owner discovered her vehicle sitting in Prestige Towing’s storage yard before ultimately seeing it in another person’s possession. Detectives contacted the lienholder, who reportedly confirmed that no repossession assignment had ever been issued for the vehicle.

According to court documents, investigators then reviewed paperwork submitted to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. They allege Patterson filed documents falsely identifying the vehicle as an abandoned “water recovery” while using an incorrect vehicle identification number that allowed the vehicle to be transferred under a fraudulent VIN.

Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme — Heather Patterson, 45, owner of Prestige Towing

The investigation expanded after detectives executed a search warrant at Patterson’s residence, where they reportedly recovered a large volume of towing and title paperwork.

Investigators say they identified 89 separate towing records claiming vehicles had been removed at the request of Greene County Dispatch. However, authorities state Prestige Towing had not participated in the county’s towing rotation since January 2023 and dispatch records showed no corresponding calls for service. State investigators also allege Patterson submitted forged documentation involving at least 27 vehicle title and registration transactions.

In a separate allegation, Patterson is accused of charging a customer for a temporary license plate while completing paperwork for a motorcycle later determined to have been stolen.

Patterson has been booked into the Greene County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond pending further court proceedings. The allegations remain unproven until adjudicated in court.

No Known Ties to the Professional Repossession Industry

A review conducted by CURepossession found no evidence that Prestige Towing maintained relationships with national lender forwarding companies, recovery management platforms, or recognized repossession industry organizations.

The business appears to have operated primarily as a local towing and notary service through social media rather than through a traditional commercial website. While the company advertised towing and vehicle paperwork services, there is no publicly available indication that it served institutional lenders or operated as an established repossession vendor.

If the allegations are proven, the case highlights a critical distinction often overlooked by the public: a vehicle being removed by a tow truck does not necessarily mean it is being repossessed on behalf of a secured lender.

Professional repossession companies operate under written assignments from lienholders, must comply with state laws governing collateral recovery, and generally maintain extensive documentation authorizing every recovery. According to investigators, the alleged scheme in this case involved taking vehicles without those lender authorizations while submitting falsified records to obtain titles.

Why This Matters

Stories like this can do lasting damage to the reputation of the legitimate repossession industry. To the average consumer, a tow truck is a tow truck, and when headlines describe “illegal repossessions,” many assume professional recovery agencies are operating outside the law. In reality, reputable repossession companies work under written assignments from secured lenders, document every recovery, and operate within a strict legal framework designed to protect both creditors and consumers.

If the allegations in this case prove true, they represent something fundamentally different than a lawful repossession gone wrong. They describe an alleged scheme to seize vehicles without lender authorization and obtain ownership through fraudulent paperwork. That distinction matters. The repossession industry already faces increasing public scrutiny, rising regulation, and growing litigation. Cases involving individuals who allegedly misuse the appearance of legitimate recovery work only make it more difficult for ethical agencies to earn and maintain the public’s trust.

Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme – Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme – Arkansas Tow Company Owner Charged in Alleged Fake Repossession Scheme