Charity Fraud Investigation Involving Donated Vehicles

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, May 23, 2000

"Charity Fraud Investigation Involving Donated Vehicles"

Canoga Park – On May 23, 2000, LAPD Valley Bureau Community Effort to Combat Auto Theft (CECAT), comprised of the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicle Investigators, served two search warrants on a business known as "Donation Auto Sales" and the owner’s private residence. The business is an encampment located on the rear parking lot of 21059 Sherman Way and a single family dwelling at 6952 Lurline Avenue in Canoga Park.

CECAT detectives are conducting a grand theft investigation regarding charity fraud. The suspect was using his car dealership (Donation Auto Sales) to obtain vehicles for his inventory by representing himself as the following charities: Woman’s Odyssey, Pet Adoption, Victory Outreach, Jewish Family Service, National Missing Children Locate Center and Heritage for the Blind. The investigation is on going and the search warrants were served to recover evidence of charity fraud and grand theft.

For further information, please contact Detective Kenneth Belt at 818-756-8138.

This Press Release was prepared by Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section.

For Release 5:00 pm PDT
May 23, 2000