Check this out! :o
Attorney General Charlie Crist
News Release
January 28, 2003
Used Car Dealer Charged With Defrauding Customers
WEST PALM BEACH – Luxury Cars of Palm Beach Inc. and its owner, Deris Ceresa,
have been charged by Attorney General Charlie Crist with defrauding
customers, lenders and automobile wholesalers.
"There is a long trail of unsuspecting victims in this case," said General
Crist. "It is a privilege to fight for those who have been harmed by their
dealings with this company."
A civil complaint was filed in Palm Beach Circuit Court today against the
used car dealership which is at 2275 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite C,
West Palm Beach, as well as the owner.
General Crist indicated that his office had affidavits from 44 consumers
involving 61 cars. At least $954,667 in out-of-pocket losses were incurred
just by individual consumers and the losses to banks may be greater. One bank
alone estimates losses at $541,578. Various wholesalers have also lost money
in their dealings with Luxury Cars and its principal.
According to the complaint, the company and its owner:
Delivered payment to many consumer consignors in the form of checks which
were later returned for insufficient funds, or failed to deliver any payment
at all;
Purchased vehicles from wholesalers with checks which were returned for
insufficient funds;
Failed to satisfy loans on vehicle trade-ins;
Advertised, attempted to sell or sold vehicles which they did not have;
Asked customers to sign contracts with the vehicle ID number blank, because
they did not have titles to the vehicles which they were selling.
In August, 2002, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
suspended the company's license to do business and subsequently revoked it on
November 22, 2002. Despite this, according to affidavits filed with the
court, Ceresa continued to engage in an automobile-related business at the
same location.
