The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Port Richey, Fla.-based automotive management company Victory Automotive Group Inc. (VAG) has agreed to pay $9 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application it submitted. Congress created […]
Former Detroit Police Lieutenant in Charge of Integrity Unit Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Prison for Taking Towing Referrals Bribes
A former police lieutenant in charge of the Detroit Police Department’s Integrity Unit was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for accepting bribes in a conspiracy with another Detroit police officer in connection with corruption in the towing industry in Detroit, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced April 18. Ison was joined in […]
Justice Department Sues North Carolina-based Towing Company for Violating Rights of Servicemembers
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of North Carolina alleging that Billy Joe Goines, the owner and operator of Goines Towing & Recovery (Goines), auctioned off, sold or otherwise disposed of motor vehicles owned by servicemembers using court judgments obtained without filing proper military affidavits, in violation of federal law. The […]
Collision Repair Center Bookkeeper Plead Guilty to Defrauding Employer of Over $2 Million
The United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, announced September 6 that Christina Joyner, 47, of Rio Rancho, N.M., pleaded guilty to wire fraud. According to the plea agreement and court records, Joyner worked for 25 years as a bookkeeper for Quanz Motor Car Company, that operated as Quanz Auto […]
Husband and Wife Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraudulent Tax Filings of Maryland Collision Repair Facility
Defendants required to pay over $2 million in restitution. On July 5 U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Ercin Kalender, age 61, of Alexandria, Virginia and Lizette Kalender, age 44, of Alexandria, Virginia to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy related to tax fraud […]
South Florida Towing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
On Friday, Craig Goldstein, 60, of Boca Raton, Florida the owner of a Lauderdale Lakes towing company, pled guilty to three counts of Tax Evasion for underreporting income and failing to pay federal tax on money he received through a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) kickback scheme and other cash-based fraud. The sentencing has been set […]
Justice Department Obtains $50,000 Settlement Against Dallas Towing Company for Illegally Selling Cars Owned by U.S. Servicemembers
The Justice Department announced that Dallas towing company United Tows LLC has agreed to enter into a consent order to resolve allegations that it illegally sold five servicemember-owned vehicles, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA is a federal law that provides a variety of financial and housing protections to members […]
Justice Department Settles with Florida Towing Company for Illegally Selling or Scrapping Servicemembers’ Vehicles
The Justice Department announced it reached an agreement with ASAP Towing & Storage Company in Jacksonville, Fla, to resolve allegations that ASAP violated a federal law, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), by auctioning off or otherwise disposing of cars owned by protected servicemembers without first obtaining court orders. Under the agreement, ASAP must pay […]
U.S. Justice Department Sues Florida Towing Company for Unlawfully Selling Car Belonging to Deployed Servicemember
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit in the Middle District of Florida alleging that Target Recovery Towing Inc. and Target Recovery & Transport Inc. violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), by failing to obtain a court order before auctioning off a car belonging to a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant who was deployed overseas. The […]
San Francisco Area Collision Repair Shop Operator Charged with Wire Fraud
Government alleges defendant orchestrated kickback scheme and lied to secure PPP loan. Geoffrey M. Palermo, owner of GMP Cars, was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud and making false statements in a loan application in connection with multiple schemes to defraud from 2013 to 2020. According to the complaint, Palermo, 56, of Novato, […]