Whitehall used-car dealership sued by Ohio Attorney General for odometer tampering, fraud
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office has filed suit against a fourth Columbus-area used car dealership for allegedly rolling back odometer numbers and selling salvaged vehicles without telling customers.
The latest lawsuit was filed against Ohio Mega Group LLC at 4333 E. Main St. in Whitehall, and its owner, Dominic Wiley, of Columbus.
The attorney general's office reported that it received 17 complaints about the dealership, which operated at a lot with a small, one-story office located on East Main between Westphal and Pierce avenues.
What is Ohio Mega Group accused of?
The lawsuit against Ohio Mega Group, which was filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, cites a number of violations of state consumer protection laws, including the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Odometer Rollback and Disclosure Act.
The suit accuses Wiley and the dealership of:
● Failing to promptly file title applications within 30 and 40 days of vehicle assignment or delivery
● Concealing the rebuilt salvage status of vehicles from consumers.
● Falsifying odometer disclosure statements
● Withholding accurate and complete odometer disclosures.
● Engaging in odometer tampering or alterations.
● Failing to obtain a surety bond in an amount not less than $25,000.
● Selling a used motor vehicle to a consumer from a location that was not Ohio Mega Group’s place of business.
Yost wants restitution for consumers who bought vehicles from Ohio Mega Group, and to recover money that was paid to resolve consumer complaints.
The suit also asks for civil penalties, and seeks to prohibit Wiley from acquiring or maintaining auto dealer or sales licenses.
Ohio Department of Commerce records show that the registered statutory agent for Ohio Mega Group was Kenneth Sealey, of Columbus' Southeast Side, who resigned his post in May. Ohio law requires all corporations and limited liability companies to maintain a valid statutory agent upon whom any legal process, notice or demand may be served.
When Ohio Mega Group did not respond to a notice (which the state mailed to Sealey's home address) to name another agent, records show the state canceled the business entity and they may no longer do business in Ohio under state law.
Investigators found that Ohio Mega Group shared a lot with S Automotive, which Yost's office had sued in February for similar violations.
This case marks the fourth odometer-tampering suit filed this year by Yost’s office. Besides Ohio Mega Group and S Automotive, the other two lawsuits involve Kalango Links on Cleveland Avenue and Uncle B on East Hudson Street in North Linden.
How you can check for odometer fraud
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says people can check for odometer fraud by doing the following:
● Ask to see the title and compare the mileage on it with the vehicle’s odometer. Be sure to examine the title closely if the mileage notation seems obscured or is not easy to read.
● Compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage indicated on the vehicle’s maintenance or inspection records. Also, search for oil change and maintenance stickers on windows or door frames, in the glove compartment or under the hood.
● Examine the tires. If the odometer on the car shows 20,000 or less, it should have the original tires.
● Look at the wear and tear on the vehicle—especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals—to be sure it seems consistent with and appropriate for the number of miles displayed on the odometer.
● Request a vehicle history report to check for odometer discrepancies in the vehicle’s history. If the seller does not have a vehicle history report, use the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to order a vehicle history report online.
mferench@dispatch.com
@MarkFerenchik
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Whitehall used-car dealership sued by Ohio AG for odometer fraud, more
