Kaleb Deakle Guilty of Defrauding Car Dealership

Topics:  Land Rover of New Orleans

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
May 16, 2013

Kaleb Deakle, age 24, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty today in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.

According to court documents, Deakle previously resided in New Orleans and gained access to the bank account of the management company where he had leased a condominium. Deakle used his computer to negotiate the online sale of a 2012 Land Rover Sport. After a series of e-mails with the salesman, Deakle arrived at Land Rover of New Orleans on January 12, 2012, with a check purportedly from the management company. The check was counterfeit and written for the total purchase price of $72,148.50. Deakle led the dealership to believe that he was employed by Apple Inc. and that the check was legitimate, and he thereby was given possession of the vehicle.

The plea agreement reflected that $418,373.96 is the total attempted harm of the scheme and will be used to calculate his sentence. Deakle is to pay full restitution in the amount of $132,093.83, which is the actual harm caused to all the victims of the scheme.

Deakle faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, as well as a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

Sentencing is set for August 15, 2013, at 10:00 a.m..

The case was investigated by the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jon Maestri.