San Francisco Tow Truck Operator Indicted for Arson Conspiracy

A federal grand jury has charged Jose Vicente Badillo, a 29-year-old tow truck operator in San Francisco, with conspiracy to commit arson. The indictment stems from an alleged scheme in which Badillo and four accomplices are accused of deliberately setting fire to competitors’ tow trucks to boost business for his own companies.

Details of the Allegations

According to the indictment, Badillo orchestrated several fires targeting a total of at least six tow trucks throughout the Bay Area from April to October 2023. The first incident occurred on April 4, when a 2008 white Sterling Bullet 45 and a 2012 white Dodge Ram 4500 were set ablaze. In subsequent weeks, a 2018 Peterbilt 579 heavy wrecker was also set on fire, along with a 2009 Ford F-550 on July 25 and two more trucks—two Ford F-550s and a 2022 Dodge Ram 550 flatbed—on October 3.

Investigation Insights

While authorities have not disclosed the specific methods used to link Badillo to these crimes, at least one co-conspirator identified in the indictment is reportedly a business associate involved with Badillo’s towing firms, including Specialty Towing.

Cumulative Criminal Charges

This indictment adds to a growing list of legal troubles for Badillo. Earlier in August, he faced charges of auto insurance fraud. FBI investigations led to search warrants executed at some of his towing facilities. In this separate case, Badillo allegedly purchased a significantly damaged vehicle and transferred it to an associate, who then filed a fraudulent insurance claim.

Additional Legal Scrutiny

In a separate allegation, Badillo and co-defendant Abigail Fuentes are confronting multiple felony charges related to a welfare fraud scheme. Prosecutors have accused Fuentes, a former employee of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, of improperly facilitating Badillo’s welfare application without revealing their relationship. At the time of the application, the couple reportedly managed three towing companies, generating over $2 million annually.

Continued Controversy with Towing Practices

The pair’s business practices have drawn increased scrutiny from San Francisco officials. City Attorney David Chiu criticized one of their companies, Auto Towing, for allegedly profiting from illegal towing practices. In February 2024, Chiu moved to suspend Auto Towing and its associated entities from securing city contracts. This action followed an incident where a witness recorded one of Auto Towing’s trucks attempting to attach to a moving vehicle.

“We were freaking out calling and basically rolling down our window and saying, ‘Hey what you are doing? You can’t be doing that,’” said a driver involved in the incident. “He started backing up and his lever came down and basically he was just backing up trying to latch onto our car.”

Court Proceedings and Potential Consequences

Jose Vicente Badillo is scheduled for arraignment in district court on March 20. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and could incur fines amounting to $250,000, as indicated by law enforcement officials.