A San Juan County arrest warrant affidavit alleges that a Farmington vehicle theft report led to a false insurance claim and the embezzlement of a motor vehicle. According to the affidavit filed in magistrate court, the allegations involve Brian Johnson Shorty and stem from a 2021 theft report involving a white Ford pickup and a subsequent insurance payout. Court records state the insurance claim resulted in a payment of more than $10,000.

What Court Records Allege

Vehicle Reported Missing After Night Out in Farmington

According to the affidavit, an officer was dispatched in July 2021 after Shorty reported his vehicle missing from a business along East Main Street in Farmington. Shorty told police he had parked the vehicle at the location the previous night after drinking and returned the next day to find it gone. He reported that he had both sets of keys and did not know who might have taken the vehicle, records state.

The affidavit states the vehicle was entered into the National Crime Information Center database as stolen. At the time of the report, Shorty told officers he had no suspect information and believed the vehicle may have been towed, though no tow company reported having it.

Recovered Vehicle Located Years Later Near Shiprock

Court records state that in May 2025, a community service officer contacted Shorty after receiving information that the reported stolen vehicle had been located near Shiprock. According to the affidavit, Shorty acknowledged locating the vehicle after a coworker told him it was sitting in a vacant area near his residence.

The affidavit alleges Shorty told law enforcement that the vehicle was the same one he had reported stolen in 2021 and requested that it be removed from the stolen vehicle database. Records state officers verified the vehicle identification number and license plate before removing the NCIC entry.

Insurance Company Identified as Legal Owner

According to the affidavit, investigators later learned through the National Insurance Crime Bureau that the vehicle title had been transferred to an insurance company after a claim payout. Records state the insurance company paid $10,660.20 on the claim in August 2021, making it the legal owner of the vehicle.

The affidavit alleges that despite the payout and title transfer, Shorty reported recovering the vehicle himself in 2025 and did not provide its location to law enforcement or the insurance company. Investigators state Shorty was informed the insurance company intended to pursue charges if the vehicle was not recovered.

Recorded Insurance Call Cited in Warrant Request

The affidavit describes a recorded phone call between Shorty and an insurance representative shortly after the reported theft. According to the affidavit, Shorty stated during the call that he was the owner of the vehicle, drove it regularly, and had not loaned or attempted to sell it. He also stated the vehicle was paid off and that he left it parked before discovering it missing.

Investigators allege the statements made during the call were inconsistent with later findings regarding vehicle ownership and recovery. The affidavit states that as of February 2026, Shorty had not provided police with the vehicle’s location.

Charges Filed

Based on the affidavit, a judge was asked to issue an arrest warrant for the following charges. The charges are allegations that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

• False insurance claim over $2,500 but not more than $20,000, a third-degree felony, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 59A-16-23A(2)
• Embezzlement of a vehicle or motor vehicle (first offense), a fourth-degree felony, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-16D-2(B)(1)

Case Status

The affidavit requests the issuance of an arrest warrant. Court records reviewed for this report do not indicate that Shorty has been arrested. Information regarding bond, custody status, or a first court appearance was not included in the filing.

Source

The information in this article is drawn from an affidavit for arrest warrant filed Feb. 6, 2026, in San Juan County Magistrate Court. The affidavit was sworn by a Farmington Police Department detective.

All persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges are allegations and do not constitute evidence of guilt.