Virginia
Prosecutors charge Virginia company with illegally selling cars belonging to military members
NORFOLK, Va. – Federal prosecutors have filed a lawsuit accusing a Virginia firm of illegally taking and promoting service members’ autos.
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The lawsuit filed Friday accuses Steve’s Towing of Virginia Seashore of illegally seizing and promoting autos belonging to seven service members, together with a SEAL Workforce member whereas he was deployed abroad.
Federal officers stated in courtroom paperwork that the seizures violate the service members Civil Reduction Act, which requires towing firms to get a courtroom order earlier than auctioning off service members’ autos. The legislation additionally prohibits towing firms from implementing storage liens whereas service members are deployed, and for 90 days afterward.
The lawsuit seeks damages for affected service members, a civil penalty, and a courtroom order barring Steve’s Towing from auctioning off seized autos with out courtroom orders.
In response to the lawsuit, two autos belonging to a SEAL Workforce 2 member and bearing Arizona tags had been towed from a parking zone throughout from group headquarters at Little Creek in January. Whereas Steve’s Towing requested the Virginia DMV for automobile data, it didn’t verify with Arizona.
Thirty-six days after towing the autos, Steve’s Towing filed liens $970 to cowl storage prices for every automobile.
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That very same day, firm president Steven E. Gilliam, reported to the Virginia DMV that the corporate enforced the liens by buying each autos from itself for $500 every. The corporate by no means obtained a courtroom order to take action.
The Related Press contributed to this report.