The City of El Paso contracted 2 towing companies who illegally impounded and auctioned off 176 vehicles belonging to deployed U.S. armed forces members.

 they and the city, failed due diligence in simply checking the military status of the registered owners before auctioning the vehicles

The U.S. Justice Department launched an investigation into the auctioning of vehicles owned by armed forces members after the City of El Paso towed the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado of Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Dechent while she was deployed to Afghanistan. United Road Towing failed to obtain a court order to impound the vehicle and sold it at auction for $6,200. Dechent still owed $13,000 on the loan.

https://www.carscoops.com/2024/08/city-of-el-paso-and-towing-companies-fined-for-auctioning-cars-of-deployed-servicemembers/