Beau Michael Guidry of Baton Rouge, La., was sentenced today in
connection with an odometer tampering scheme that defrauded victims in
and around Louisiana, the Justice Department announced.
U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana James J.
Brady sentenced Guidry to a term of 20 months in prison and a term of
one year of supervised release during which he cannot
be involved in the sale of motor vehicles. In addition, the court
ordered Guidry to pay $72,805.51 in restitution to the victims of his
crimes.
Guidry purchased high-mileage motor vehicles via eBay and wholesale automobile auctions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The vehicles’ odometers were then rolled back as much as
147,000 miles and resold via Guidry’s used vehicle company, Affordable
Imports in Denham Springs, La., or through eBay to unsuspecting
purchasers.
Guidry exclusively rolled back vehicles that were more than 10 years old when he sold them.
Because of the age of the cars, Guidry was not required to sign a
disclosure certifying the mileage on those 10-year old vehicles as
accurate.
However, each time he altered an odometer with intent to change the mileage on the odometer, he violated federal law.
“Odometer tampering preys mostly on those in society who can least
afford to be defrauded,” said Stuart F. Delery, Principal Deputy
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division. “In these tough
economic times, we will take strong action against anyone who defrauds
consumers and jeopardizes the safety of our roads and highways.”
Special Agent Wendell Espeland of The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation (NHTSA)
investigated this case.
The case was prosecuted by Justice Department trial attorney David Sullivan of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch.
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