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one Florida Husband and Wife faces a slew of criminal charges stemming from an alleged title fraud scheme involving luxury vehicles sold by its company-operated car dealers.
Michael Anthony Lucci, 32, and Emily Marie Lucci, 30, were charged with nine counts of making false statements in a bill of sale application, nine counts of possessing a false vehicle title or registration, nine counts of perjury by making a false written statement, nine counts of using a forged instrument, one count of racketeering and one count of organized fraud, according to jail records obtained by Fox News Digital.
The married couple was arrested on Jan. 21 as the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) launched an investigation into their business, Luxury Auto Source, in Davie, NBC 6 reports report.
According to reports obtained by the outlet, the FHP initially began investigating the couple’s business after they allegedly submitted fraudulent parts invoices for a 2020 Nissan GT-R to the department.
Emily Marie Lucci, 30, was charged with nine counts of making a false statement on a bill of sale application, nine counts of possessing a false vehicle title or registration, nine counts of perjury by false written statement, nine counts of forgery, one count of racketeering and one count of organized fraud, according to jail records obtained by Fox News Digital. (Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
The document was reportedly filed by Emily Lucci at a label agency Nearby Miami-Dade County said the company was seeking to obtain a certificate of title and attached a parts invoice claiming more than $18,000 in repairs to several major components of the vehicle.
However, authorities claimed the invoices were fake and that the real invoices totaled about $1,200, the outlet reported. Additionally, the car is reportedly listed for $94,500, an increase of nearly $40,000 from the 2022 price of $55,000.
Following the alleged fraudulent invoices, FHP investigators began looking into other vehicles listed for sale at the couple’s business.
Michael Anthony Lucci, 32, was charged with nine counts of making false statements on a bill of sale application, nine counts of possessing a false vehicle title or registration, nine counts of perjury by false written statement, nine counts of forgery, one count of racketeering and one count of organized fraud, according to jail records obtained by Fox News Digital. (Miami-Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)
Authorities eventually discovered eight more luxury cars that had been re-titled to Florida and fraudulent invoices, the outlet reported.
The vehicle list reportedly includes a 2017 Bentley priced at $63,900, a 2018 BMW M3 priced at $37,900, a 2022 Porsche 911 priced at $187,900, a 2020 Toyota Supra priced at $36,900, a 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat priced at $52,900, and a 2023 Cadillac Escalade.
Dodge Charger allegedly has multiple VINs and the engine can be traced to one vehicle Stolen from North CarolinaAccording to the media report.
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The married couple allegedly forged vehicle titles for Luxury Auto Source, an owner-operated car dealership in Davie, Florida. (iStock)
“At the conclusion of my review, I discovered that nine vehicles currently for sale by Luxury Auto Source LLC were obtained through the submission of fraudulent or manipulated parts invoices to the DHSMV,” an investigator reportedly wrote in the arrest report.
“These vehicles constitute contraband because their title was fraudulently obtained. These vehicles, and potentially other vehicles sold through this dealership, pose a significant risk to innocent purchasers who may unknowingly purchase impounded and forfeited vehicles, resulting in the loss of the vehicles and associated funds due to their status as contraband.”
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According to reports, Michael Lucchin FHP officer A search warrant was executed at the store and Emily Lucci later turned herself in to authorities.
The two were released on $30,000 bail, according to jail records obtained by Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital could not immediately locate attorneys representing Emily and Michael Lucci. FHP did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
