McDaniel
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Legal Newsline) - Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced on Tuesday that 29 Arkansas consumers have received restitution following alleged odometer fraud by two car dealers and their owners.
The consumers have received a total of $34,000 in restitution from a suit brought by McDaniel's office, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Arkansas State Police against John Thomas Lindsay, Brad Allan Tyl, and Alan Owens, doing business as JTL Motors and Elite Motors.
The suit alleged that the defendants engaged in the practice of rolling back odometers on used cars. The suit alleged that consumers paid more for the vehicles than they were actually worth as a result of the fraud. Additionally, consumers allegedly incurred unexpected repair costs due to the true mileage of the cars greatly exceeding the mileage disclosed to the buyers.
"Consumers should have the confidence that they're getting what they pay for, especially when it comes to a purchase as significant as a vehicle," McDaniel said. "I'm pleased with the court's ruling in this matter and for the positive outcome from our office's enforcement of our state's consumer protection laws."
The Pulaski County Circuit Court judgment ordered the defendants to pay $132,604.53 in restitution, penalties and costs. Consumers affected by the alleged fraud who filed claims with McDaniel's office received restitution checks this week.