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2 Salespeople Charged In Fraud At Used Car Lot [Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA)](Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Staff Writer [email protected] Two salespeople are facing various offenses after an investigation into the business practices of a West Lampeter Township car dealership. Stephen F. Clark, 44, of Forest Hills, Maryland, and Lisa J. Grimm, 47, of Drumore, committed multiple violations related to vehicle sales at Triple Deuce Tags and Sales, 601 Beaver Valley Pike, officials said. State police began an investigation July 7 after they were contacted by a customer. Trooper Josh Whiteside, in a news release, said the customer purchased a vehicle from the dealership, providing a cash down payment along with cash for taxes, title and registration. Shortly after the sale, the customer returned the vehicle because it failed to pass a state inspection and had other mechanical issues. Clark, who was the salesman, failed to rectify the situation, police said. Officials investigating the sale of the vehicle discovered that an installment contract, typically referred to as "Buy Here Pay Here," had been utilized in the sale. Police said the dealership wasn't licensed to conduct such sales. The contract required the customer to make monthly payments for a period of three years at the "overly inflated" interest rate of 84 percent, according to investigators. Officials said Clark never submitted the title or registration paperwork to the state and instead kept the money. Police said other similar sales were conducted by both Clark and Grimm. Officials said the two made multiple installment-type sales where they listed themselves and lien holders, to make it appear as though the transactions were private sales. As a result of such sales and what authorities called the "mismanagement of the company," some titles are missing and some were transferred improperly, police said. In reviewing bank accounts as part of the investigation, it was discovered that Clark had stolen a personal check from Grimm, forged her signature and cashed the check for $3,000, according to investigators. He also forged her signature on company checks, they said. Clark is charged with felony deceptive and fraudulent business practices, violating the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and Board of Vehicles Act violations. He was arrested Tuesday at his home on the current charges along with a felony drug warrant from 2009. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison but was released Thursday after posting $25,000 bail, according to court documents. Grimm is charged with violating the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act, and Board of Vehicles Act violations. State police said the incidents took place during the past 10 months. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |