Author: Kirk Ballard

Father and Son Sentenced in Large Scale Vehicle Odometer Roll Back Scheme

Kirk Ballard

Jackson, Miss. – Mark Longgrear, 54, of Jackson, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison, and his son, Zachary Longgrear, 29, of Madison, was sentenced to 28 months in prison by United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves for conspiring to reset and alter the odometers of motor vehicles, to giving or causing to be given false statements relating to odometers, and securities fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent-in-Charge Midwest Region, Kevin L. Porter with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  The Longgrears were also ordered to pay restitution, jointly and severally, in the amount of $1.5 million.

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Norfolk man pleads guilty to rolling back odometers on at least 50 used cars, reselling for profit

Kirk Ballard

A Norfolk man conspired to roll back the odometers of more than 50 vehicles before selling them to used-car dealerships and others, according to court documents.

Lawson W. Basnight, 47, pleaded guilty Thursday to the fraud – which resulted in $250,000 to $550,000 in losses.

“He’s accepted responsibility and knows what he did was wrong,” Moody “Sonny” Stallings Jr., Basnight’s attorney, said after the plea hearing. He said his client expects to serve some time in jail and was ready to start his sentence Thursday, “but the judge talked him out of it.”

A sentencing hearing is set for May 16 in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. Basnight faces a maximum of five years in prison.

Prosecutors Jacqueline Blaesi-Freed and Elizabeth Yusi declined to comment.

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Thank you!

Kirk Ballard

Our 2011 Conference in Charleston, West Virginia was terrific! Conference attendees received hours of quality education in techniques, skills and case presentations to further their expertise in odometer and title fraud issues.

Stay tuned for information on our 2012, combined MOTFEA/NOTFEA Conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Be sure and save the date: June 3rd-7th, 2012! More information will be in the NOTFEA/MOTFEA Conference link as it becomes available.