Augusta Car Salesman Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Auto Loan Fraud Conspiracy

Topics:  Amos Meyers

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Georgia
March 5, 2010

AUGUSTA, GA—Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced today that Amos Meyers, age 47, of Augusta, Georgia was sentenced by United States District Judge J. Randal Hall in Augusta, Georgia to 15 months’ imprisonment on Meyers’ prior fraud conviction. On October 8, 2009, Meyers entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud conspiracy in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.

Following his release from prison, Meyers will be placed under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for a term of three years. Meyers was also required as part of his sentence today to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $66,521.98.

The evidence at today’s sentencing hearing showed that while Meyers was a salesman at Stokes Hodges Auto Mall in Augusta, Georgia, he conspired with Zenard Zenor Brownlee and other individuals to fraudulently obtain auto loans in the amounts of approximately $24,789.13 for the June 2005 purchase of a 2003 Jaguar X-type luxury vehicle, $40,450.15 for the October 2006 purchase of a 2003 Hummer H2 sport-utility vehicle, and $36,755.24 for the October 2006 purchase of a 2002 Mercedes Benz Model S luxury vehicle. The evidence also showed that stolen identities were used to obtain these fraudulent auto loans.

Commenting on this evidence, Judge Hall remarked that identity theft is “one of the most serious cancers” on our nation’s financial system. Judge Hall also noted that this crime undermines the trust which banks that finance auto loans place in the people that work at car dealerships.

United States Attorney Tarver stated, “This prosecution demonstrates the continuing commitment of the United States Attorney's Office to protecting the integrity of the financial system of this nation. Relying on the joint efforts of federal and local law enforcement, this office will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to commit identity crimes or defraud financial institutions.”

FBI Special Agent Paul Kubala and Investigator Michael Lanham of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation and Assistant United States Attorney David M. Stewart represented the government in this case.