A San Antonio man has been sentenced to ten years in jail after pleading guilty to leading multiple high-speed police chases across Kendall and Bexar counties, recording the pursuits, and posting the videos on Instagram to mock law enforcement officers. The Kendall County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that 19-year-old Timothy Vitaliy Fogel was convicted on charges of felony evading arrest and reckless driving following a months-long investigation that tied him to a string of dangerous incidents captured and shared online.
According to prosecutors, Fogel repeatedly filmed himself driving a black BMW at extreme speeds through local highways, taunting police in videos uploaded to an Instagram account. Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety discovered multiple dash camera and cell phone recordings showing the same car weaving through traffic, narrowly avoiding collisions, and accelerating well past 100 mph. The videos often included captions ridiculing police efforts, such as “he tried but failed (AI FAKE FOOTAGE)” and “Little fly by for the cops (AI FAKE FOOTAGE).”
Authorities said the first known chase occurred in April 2025 when Fogel parked behind a Boerne police officer along Interstate 10’s westbound frontage road. As the officer approached, the masked driver made an obscene gesture before speeding away. The ensuing pursuit extended into Bexar County and was later posted to Instagram. In May, Fogel’s vehicle appeared again in a clip showing two “fly-bys” of a traffic stop at speeds exceeding 140 mph. The video displayed a speedometer reading 142 mph as Fogel sped past stationary emergency vehicles without moving over.
By late May, investigators reported another incident involving the same vehicle. A Kendall County sheriff’s deputy was conducting a traffic stop when the black BMW raced by at more than 100 mph. A Boerne police officer gave chase, but the pursuit ended at the Bexar County line. Two videos surfaced online shortly after—one titled “sheriffs don’t do nothing again (AI FAKE FOOTAGE)” and another labeled “Part 2 of outrunning the sheriff (AI FAKE FOOTAGE).” In the latter, sirens could be heard as passengers urged Fogel to accelerate, saying, “Tim, hurry up” and “Tim, he’s coming up quick, bro.”
The reckless behavior continued into June 2025. Boerne police reported seeing the same black BMW driving without license plates and attempted to stop the vehicle. Instead, Fogel led officers on another chase through Main Street at speeds above 100 mph, weaving between cars and nearly colliding with a police cruiser. Officers deployed spike strips, but the attempt failed, and the pursuit again ended at the county line.
Following that incident, prosecutors said Fogel posted another message online mocking law enforcement. The post read, “Boerne pd y’all slow…20 or more cops still fail. Boerne and Kendall y'all slow brought y'alls whole pd out and still failed…Better luck next time Boerne pd y’all slow asf 20 plus cops and still fail.”
The investigation took a decisive turn when police spotted Fogel at a local convenience store. Officers noted that he appeared visibly nervous during questioning and that his black BMW matched the vehicle seen in the Instagram videos. The car was equipped with multiple camera mounts, a police scanner, and a novelty license plate reading “WILLRUN.”
Digital forensic analysis later confirmed that the Instagram account used to upload the chase footage was registered to Fogel’s personal email, phone number, and home internet address. Records showed that Fogel had accessed the account from his home during the same periods when the videos were uploaded. These findings directly linked him to the online taunting and the reckless driving incidents captured on video.
Fogel ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of felony evading arrest and one count of reckless driving. As part of his sentencing, he received ten years in jail and six years of probation, during which he must wear an ankle monitor that tracks his driving speed and location. The court also imposed a $1,500 fine, community service, and strict behavioral conditions designed to prevent future violations.
In a measure meant to highlight accountability, the judge ordered Fogel to write formal apology letters to the law enforcement officers he endangered during the chases. He must also write a personal apology to his parents and repay them for the legal expenses incurred throughout the proceedings.
Officials in Kendall County described the case as an alarming example of social media being used to glorify criminal behavior. Law enforcement emphasized that such reckless actions not only endanger officers and other drivers but also undermine public trust and safety. They said the sentence sends a clear message that using online platforms to promote illegal acts will have serious legal consequences.
While Fogel’s posts may have drawn attention online, authorities said his actions put countless lives at risk. Investigators noted that several of the incidents took place during heavy traffic hours and involved speeds exceeding 140 mph. The Kendall County District Attorney’s Office praised the collaboration between multiple agencies — including the Boerne Police Department, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas DPS — whose coordination led to the arrest and successful prosecution.
As Fogel begins his ten-year sentence, officials hope the case serves as a deterrent for others tempted to turn reckless driving into online entertainment. Authorities reiterated that endangering public safety for social media attention not only jeopardizes lives but can also result in years behind bars.
