Photo: Getty Images
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has shut down an unlicensed car dealership in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County. The operation, run by Raed Nesheiwat, Lakeia Parker, and Marceise Livesay, sold over 150 vehicles without a legitimate dealer license from a building and parking lot at 20-22 Pershing Avenue. The suspects have been charged with 161 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 161 counts of falsifying business records, and one count of scheme to defraud, according to the DMV's official announcement.
The investigation, which lasted over two years, revealed that the suspects purchased used vehicles at auctions and sold them to unsuspecting customers using fraudulent paperwork from four different Florida auto dealerships. The DMV found that the individuals had no legal connection with any of the Florida dealers and did not have a valid dealer license to operate in New York State. In fact, Nesheiwat has had New York dealer applications denied due to unpaid civil penalties related to unrelated unlicensed sales.
DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder warned that operations like this put car buyers and everyone on the road at risk. "Registered motor vehicle dealers are held to strict guidelines and safety standards meant to protect consumers and ensure the vehicle they are buying is fit to drive. In this case, dozens of innocent car buyers were misled and lost out on those protections," Schroeder said.
Following their arrests, Parker and Livesay have been released under probation supervision, while Nesheiwat, who continued to sell vehicles using forged Florida documents after his arrest, posted bail and is on electronic monitoring.