Virginia

Prosecutors charge Virginia company with illegally selling cars belonging to military members

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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.

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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.

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The Related Press contributed to this report.



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