Aman Abbasi, manager of Virginia used-car dealer Nation Auto Group, has been charged with six criminal counts for allegedly using illegal practices at the dealership, including charges that he swindled a customer out of more than $50,000, according to law enforcement authorities and court records.
Abbasi told The Examiner that he would plead not guilty on all charges, and that the indictment stems from a misunderstanding between him and customer Jeffrey Thomas. He said he has offered Thomas a $50,000 check to make up for his losses and denied any wrongdoing.
“It’s all going to be not guilty,” he said.
Thomas claimed Abbasi defrauded him by accepting a trade-in vehicle for $23,000 — Thomas originally paid $37,000 for the 2004 Chevy Silverado — and selling him a 2002 BMW sport-utility vehicle for $36,000. He said Abbasi never paid off the trade-in, leaving Thomas responsible for paying the entire cost of the truck. In addition, Thomas said he had to pay the difference in price between the cost of the trade-in and the cost of the BMW.
In addition to defrauding Thomas, the indictment charges Abbasi with making false statements on applications for title certificates and registration cards, illegally possessing title certificates, failure to assign titles after vehicle purchases and selling vehicles without securing title certificates.
Nation Auto Group has dealerships in Alexandria and Temple Hills. Its Web site offers 100 percent credit approval to anyone with a job and lists luxury cars made by companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW in its online inventory.
At the dealership
» Used-car dealerships are regulated by the Virginia Motor Vehicle Board and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
» Other used-car dealers and private citizens can report potential violations.
» If dealers are engaged in illegal activity, they will be referred to prosecutors.
