Nev. Grand Jury Indicts for Consumer Auto Fraud

Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval announced that a Clark County Grand Jury returned a criminal indictment against Eddie Lopez, 23, Jose Aguilera, 29, and Misty Huff, 27, doing business as A&E Auto Saver or Alternative Auto of Las Vegas.

The three were arrested on Feb. 11, 2004 with Eddie Lopez charged with 18 felony counts of Theft and 1 felony count of Forgery, and both Jose Aguilera and Misty Huff charged with one felony count of Accessory to Theft.

Following further investigation by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection the Grand Jury was convened and returned 29 counts of theft for Lopez; 2 counts of Theft-Aiding and Abetting for Aguilera; and 13 counts of Theft-Aiding and Abetting for Huff. All three defendants were also indicted for racketeering.

The defendants reportedly sought out consumers who were unable to make payments on their vehicles. The defendants took possession of the vehicles promising to sell them to thirdparties.

However, the defendants never obtained legal title necessary to sell the vehicle, and they reportedly kept the majority of payments collected from the third-party purchasers.

As a result, in each case there were two victims: one consumer would lose his or her vehicle and the other consumer would lose his or her money to the defendants.