Thursday, September 6, 2018

Father & Son Plead Guilty to Rolling Back Odometers

The Justice Department issued this statement.


Mark Longgrear, 53, of Jackson, and his son, Zachary Longgrear, 29, of Madison, both pled guilty before United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves to conspiring to reset and alter the odometers of motor vehicles and to giving or causing to be given false statements relating to odometers, announced United States Attorney Mike Hurst and Deputy Administrator Heidi King with the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. Mark Longgrear also pled guilty to six counts of securities fraud.

From 2014 through at least February 2018, Mark Longgrear, along with his son, Zachary Longgrear, both individually and under their company Southern Auto Buyers LLC, bought a large number of late model, high mileage vehicles from numerous sources, and thereafter illegally altered the odometers of these vehicles to show lower mileage. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendants forged and fraudulently created paperwork to secure new titles showing false lower mileage on these vehicles, and then sold the vehicles directly to individuals and automobile dealerships at much higher prices. Some of these rolled-back vehicles were subsequently sold by the dealerships to consumers in Mississippi and elsewhere.

Judge Reeves set sentencing for December 12, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. The count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Each securities fraud violation carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Restitution may also be ordered.

“Odometer fraud costs American consumers more than $1 billion annually, said NHTSA Deputy Administrator King. “We will continue to work with Department of Justice and state DOT partners to investigate odometer fraud, deter tampering, and inform consumers of the potential signs and dangers associated with this crime.”

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yea! Get em, Mike! Maybe we can finally sleep easy at night now.

MadisonRulz said...

If you can’t trust a car salesman who can you trust?

Anonymous said...

I hope the justice department gets these two crooks a just sentence...This is a huge black eye to the legitimate used car dealers.

Kingfish said...

This used to be huge, I mean yuuuge bidness back in the day before the feds made it illegal. It was amazing how many car dealers downtown did this.... and leading citizens as well when they got ready to sell their cars.

Anonymous said...

Personally, I'd like to see sentences based on the level of disruption caused to other people's lives. I suspect these two created a lot of chaos for others to live with and sort out. The criminal justice system isn't all about violent crime, though it sometimes seems that way.

Anonymous said...

Yep, back in the early 80s there was a shop on Gallatin (past the missions) that did that. No questions asked. A certain bank sent a lot of its repos there to have them "detailed and dialed back."

Anonymous said...

This is only a small part of what Mark has done over the years in the car business, but maybe this will stop him.

Anonymous said...

I remember it as "getting your clock fixed"
Amazing how fast and easy they did it !

Anonymous said...

That's a whole lot of driving in reverse.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if the "Country Club" they get sentenced to will have a golf course so Zack can practice and prep for the tour?

Anonymous said...

I don't run around with big shots and keep to myself as much as possible. But Zach Longgrear has crossed my path (not related to cars). He is a piece of crap who thinks he was destined for the PGA Tour. If he goes to prison, Lake Caroline will be with one less douchebag,

Anonymous said...

I paid to have this done to several vehicles back in the 80s but did not know it could be done with the computerized odometers. And I'm surprised that it CAN be. But, since you said 'late model', I guess that's what we have to go with.

Anonymous said...

ahhh @2:49 must have gotten beat pretty good by Zach on the course!

Anonymous said...


Mark while attending Mississippi Agriculture and Mechanical learned how to cheat in life at an early age. Good state boy!!

Anonymous said...


I grew up across the street from a GM dealer.

One day, I was in a car with one of his kids and noticed the speedometer wasn't working. When I asked about it, I got an "eye roll".
n
A few miles on a new car is one thing (although just as illegal), but these clowns need a good thrashing.

Anonymous said...

@1255 I remember the place. You’re correct Kingfish it was big business. Probably easier now than back then.

REEE-Gard-Less said...

7:53 - Please take a wild stab at telling us how a computerized, digital odometer can be 'rolled back'. Years ago all it took was a bent wire the size of a paper clip inserted up behind the dashboard to turn the wheels and roll off thousands. No way to do that now.

Anonymous said...

@3:47 Zach is a member at Deerfield, not Lake Caroline. And why the boy was obviously breaking the law, that doesn’t make him any less of a badass golfer. Because as for the metro he’s as good as anyone. Stay salty.

Well there you go said...

Remember 4 or 5 years ago when Tater saved us all the huge hassle and tax burden of the $5 Motor Vehicle Inspection stickers? Where duly appointed agents of the State did nothing but write down your info and odometer mileage in a receipt book of stickers that they put the sticker on your windshield, unless they otherwise took the opportunity to charge you $200 to change out a brake light bulb? Turns out the receipt books, with the date and mileage of the inspections, became part of the documents that Carfax, Autochek and the others actually use? Thanks Tater! Now just who lobbied to save us that 5 dollar bill and the huge hassle?

Anonymous said...

1047 let make sure I understand your point. The United States government can be hacked by China but your computerized digital odometer can’t be touched? Sure thing smart guy....

Anonymous said...

Well, 10:47PM and 11:06AM, if digital odometers cannot be hacked, the defense would have had no worries. The guilty plea provides an answer about what the accused thought could be proved or disproved about that aspect of the situation.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure based on the location of that auto store that they would have had any "digital odometers" yet?

Anonymous said...

Reprogramming an odometer is extremely easy. There’s a wealth of information on how to do it with just a quick google search. I’m sure it happens more than we realize. It’s not illegal to do. It’s illegal when you sell it and don’t tell people it was done. And to echo above comments, Zach is a douche bag, always has been.

Anonymous said...

I represented one guy against a dealer who had a sales rep buy used cars at auctions and turn back odometers.

This was in 2005 or so.

I did a little digging and located dozens of cars...alerted the new owners and got the dealership insurer to make the victims whole.

I never asked how he did he it....the auction house was eager to see me leave.

Anonymous said...

Have the Longgrear's been sentenced?


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