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This has to be the most corrupt dealership on the planet. Seriously....fuck these people.
by TIM WILLERT
Published: Fri, September 18, 2020 2:30 PM
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A federal grand jury this week indicted three Norman residents who co-own Big Red Sports/Imports of Norman and four other car dealerships, alleging they conspired to commit wire fraud to obtain "millions of dollars in loan proceeds" from banks, credit unions and auto finance lenders.
Bobby Chris Mayes, 28, Charles Gooch, 61, and Courtney Wells, 35, were charged with 25 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, forgery and aggravated identity theft, according to court records and a news release provided by the office of U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing in Oklahoma City.
Unsealed Wednesday, the indictment alleges Mayes, Gooch and Wells "made materially false statements and omissions to lenders about the type, source and amount of borrowers' down payments or vehicle trade-ins, and bribed at least one loan officer."
The co-owners used advertisements to target potential customers with poor credit, the indictment alleges.
The trio is also accused of instructing dealership managers and sales people to tell individuals interested in buying vehicles who did not have cash for a down payment "that they could instead pawn items with Norman Pawn & Gun" owned by Gooch, the indictment states.
The Big Red Dealership group includes Big Red Kia, Norman Yamaha, Norman Mitsubishi, and Mayes Kia. The alleged crimes were committed between January 2014 and March 2019 when Mayes was the group's president and CEO, Gooch was compliance officer and Wells was comptroller, records show.
Reached Friday, defense attorney Billy Boch said Mayes runs "very very clean car dealerships" and is innocent of the charges.
"He has generally been cooperating with the investigation for more than three years," Boch told The Oklahoman. "He believes it's unfortunate he’s been indicted, but he’s looking forward to clearing his name in a court of law."
The attorney for Wells declined to comment, while the attorney for Gooch could not immediately be reached.
According to the indictment, at least one lender approved questionable loans after being provided with cash bribes from a Big Red Dealership manager. It also alleges the defendants instructed Big Red Dealership employees to conceal the ongoing criminal conduct and even forged the signatures of customers who supposedly provided cash down payments.
Approximately 476 loans were approved based on false cash down payments, and 636 loans were approved based on false vehicle trade-ins, the indictment alleges.
Mayes, Gooch and Wells each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud or conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of forgery and two years in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft, according to the news release.
Indictment: Norman car dealership owners charged with wire fraud, other crimes
by TIM WILLERT
Published: Fri, September 18, 2020 2:30 PM
shares
A federal grand jury this week indicted three Norman residents who co-own Big Red Sports/Imports of Norman and four other car dealerships, alleging they conspired to commit wire fraud to obtain "millions of dollars in loan proceeds" from banks, credit unions and auto finance lenders.
Bobby Chris Mayes, 28, Charles Gooch, 61, and Courtney Wells, 35, were charged with 25 counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, forgery and aggravated identity theft, according to court records and a news release provided by the office of U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing in Oklahoma City.
Unsealed Wednesday, the indictment alleges Mayes, Gooch and Wells "made materially false statements and omissions to lenders about the type, source and amount of borrowers' down payments or vehicle trade-ins, and bribed at least one loan officer."
The co-owners used advertisements to target potential customers with poor credit, the indictment alleges.
The trio is also accused of instructing dealership managers and sales people to tell individuals interested in buying vehicles who did not have cash for a down payment "that they could instead pawn items with Norman Pawn & Gun" owned by Gooch, the indictment states.
The Big Red Dealership group includes Big Red Kia, Norman Yamaha, Norman Mitsubishi, and Mayes Kia. The alleged crimes were committed between January 2014 and March 2019 when Mayes was the group's president and CEO, Gooch was compliance officer and Wells was comptroller, records show.
Reached Friday, defense attorney Billy Boch said Mayes runs "very very clean car dealerships" and is innocent of the charges.
"He has generally been cooperating with the investigation for more than three years," Boch told The Oklahoman. "He believes it's unfortunate he’s been indicted, but he’s looking forward to clearing his name in a court of law."
The attorney for Wells declined to comment, while the attorney for Gooch could not immediately be reached.
According to the indictment, at least one lender approved questionable loans after being provided with cash bribes from a Big Red Dealership manager. It also alleges the defendants instructed Big Red Dealership employees to conceal the ongoing criminal conduct and even forged the signatures of customers who supposedly provided cash down payments.
Approximately 476 loans were approved based on false cash down payments, and 636 loans were approved based on false vehicle trade-ins, the indictment alleges.
Mayes, Gooch and Wells each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud or conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They each face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of forgery and two years in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft, according to the news release.
