WESLACO – A Hidalgo County man was arrested after being accused of chopping up his own truck and then claiming insurance money.

Hector Espino Garza is charged with tampering with identification numbers, insurance fraud and theft by deception.

Hidalgo County fraud investigators said an ex-employee of Espino’s reported the case to authorities.

Officials said Espino reported his 2015 Denali stolen and claimed insurance on the vehicle.

He then allegedly sold it for parts and tried to change the VIN number markings on them.