8 charged with fraud at car dealer

[CarDealerCheck]

Law enforcement authorities have charged eight people with using fraudulent documents to spend more than $1 million on vehicles at Fisher Chevrolet in Bergenfield.

Four employees from the now-bankrupt dealership have been arrested on charges of theft by deception: financial managers Joseph Kareivis and Christopher Lamazza and brokers Telly Farrow and Rashell Matos, who is also the president of First Credit Solution in Teterboro.

The four helped customers with low salaries Bergenfield police Capt. Rick McGarrill said.

Four out-of-state buyers also face charges of theft by deception, forgery and other crimes: Bernice Lubin, Meghan Murphy and Ralph Appolon -- all from Massachusetts -- and Courtney Miles, whose last known address is in Manhattan.

They allegedly used false IDs and inflated their incomes to buy cars from the dealership.

The arrests, which took place during the past three weeks, were the result of a six-month investigation by borough police and the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.

The crimes were committed during about six months at the end of 2006. The 17 vehicles purchased by fraud ended up as far away as Ohio, Tennessee and Georgia. Officials expect to make more arrests, McGarrill said.

Source: www.NorthJersey.com