Israeli Owner of Van Line Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Hiring Illegal Aliens

USDOT Office of the Inspector General
August 25, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
Contact: Jeff Nelligan
Tel: (202) 366-6312
OIG 14-99

A citizen of Israel who formed and operated a Pembroke Park, Fla.-based moving company pleaded guilty today to charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, hiring illegal aliens, conspiracy, and violation of federal transportation laws.

The Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General and the Federal Highway Administration’s Motor Carrier and Highway Safety Office announced that Yaron Tishby, president of All American Van Lines, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Fla., following an investigation by the DOT agencies, assisted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Under Tishby's direction, employees of the firm intentionally offered artificially low estimates to customers, failed to disclose charges for packing and other moving-related services, and were discouraged from providing customers with written documentation. It is alleged that Tishby's firm targeted wealthy, single, elderly female customers.

Tishby's crews would show customers paperwork that lacked a binding estimate, intentionally rush the customers through it, and load all, or most, of a customer's goods on the truck -- then demand full payment in cash. The goods of customers who refused to pay the overinflated bills would be placed in storage by Tishby's firm, where the items were not adequately protected from damage and were subject to theft or used by Tishby's employees. Customers were not informed of a regulation allowing them return of their property if they paid 110 percent of the original estimate. Customers' requests for refunds were routinely denied.

Tishby faces up to 17½ years' imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000 for each count except the illegal alien charge; on that count, he faces a fine of up to $3,000 for each illegal alien he employed. Tishby’s All American Van Lines is no longer in business.