A federal judge has sentenced Erik Hadad, a 59-year-old former car dealer, to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. This follows his conviction for carjacking a customer from the dealership he operated with his sons.
The incident stems from an October 2023 sale at Guru Auto Sales, where Hadad sold a salvaged 2020 Honda Accord to a 24-year-old Haitian legal immigrant. The buyer was required to pay $30,000 over five years at an annual interest rate of 24.22%. After the deal was finalized, the loan was sold to a finance company for approximately $13,800. A clause allowed the finance company to demand repayment if the buyer missed either of his first two payments.
When the victim missed his first payment, the finance company invoked this clause and demanded Guru Auto return about $13,000. It also informed Guru Auto that it had no right to repossess the vehicle until the money was repaid.
On December 19, 2023, after receiving this demand and despite the victim catching up on payments, Hadad followed him as he drove from home to Miami International Airport. At a red light after exiting the highway, Hadad approached and removed the temporary tag from the Honda before ordering the victim out of his car. Although initially escaping, when they reached a train station Hadad again confronted him and displayed a loaded Smith & Wesson pistol. The victim surrendered his keys and contacted police who arrested Hadad on-site.
United States District Judge K. Michael Moore handed down Hadad's sentence.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of ATF's Miami Field Division announced this development.
The investigation involved ATF Miami with help from Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office while Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Keller and Brianna Coakley prosecuted it.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites law enforcement at all levels with communities they serve aiming to reduce gun violence and other crimes while enhancing neighborhood safety across America since its enhancement on May 26th by Department strategy focusing on trust-building within communities alongside supporting preventive community-based organizations among other measures aimed at crime reduction through strategic enforcement priorities whose results are measurable according justice department sources found online via Justice.gov/PSN or related court documents under case number 24-cr-20220 available through Southern District Florida Court website flsd uscourts gov or PACER portal pacer flsd uscourts gov respectively