MATTYDALE -- A Mattydale used car dealer exposed by CNY Central in 2009 has started making payments to reimburse customers he's accused of scamming.
We first told you about 45-year-old Anthony Spinella Jr., of 9485 Steamship Manhattan in Brewerton, three years ago when customers contacted us, claiming they were victims of a scam.
Spinella was later accused of scheming to steal from his customers and charged with grand larceny, falsifying business records and scheming to defraud.
On Wednesday, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Spinella started making payments to the AG's office to reimburse customers after a court ordered him to pay $122,709 in restitution and penalties to 48 customers. The ruling also bars Spinella from ever owning and/or operating a car dealership in New York.
The Attorney General's office started investigating when Spinella's Enterprises on Brewerton Road abruptly shut down in November of 2009. Customers were left with cars they couldn't register, loans that weren't paid and extended warranties that were never activated. Some of the cars were later repossessed by banks because of outstanding loans.
"Mr. Spinella's illegal actions left Syracuse-area consumers owing thousands of dollars for cars they no longer possessed," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "My office is here to protect consumers in Central New York and throughout the state, and will make examples of any unscrupulous businesses that display a total disregard to honest business practices."
The AG's office found dozens of people fell victim to Spinella's actions, including:
* A soldier, serving in the Army, traded in his Ford F-150 to purchase a GMC Yukon. Mr. Spinella failed to pay off the outstanding lien on the Ford and consequently the consumer owed over $12,000 to his bank. In addition, the consumer's Yukon was repossessed by the prior owner's bank because Spinella had not paid off the previous bank lien.
* Another consumer bought two vehicles and traded in two vehicles. Mr. Spinella was supposed to pay off the loans for both trades, but only paid off one vehicle. The consumer's bank repossessed the traded in vehicle from Spinella's lot and forgave the rest of the consumer's loan.
* Another consumer, who purchased a vehicle from Spinella that had an unpaid lien, was unable to obtain title to his vehicle. The prior owner's bank repeatedly contacted him, threatening repossession of the vehicle.
* Another soldier, who is currently serving in Afghanistan, traded in his 2005 Ford-150 in order to purchase another vehicle. Mr. Spinella failed to pay off the loan on the F-150. Although the consumer's bank repossessed the vehicle and has re-sold it, it is demanding more than $14,000 in legal fees and repossession costs.
According to Schneiderman, numerous consumers paid between $800 and $2,000 for extended warranties that Spinella never activated.
If you bought a car from Spinella's Auto Sales, the AG's office urges you to check with your warranty companies to confirm that they have a current policy. Consumers who paid for policies that were never activated must file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office by May 19, 2011 in order to be eligible for restitution.
If you think you were the victim of deceptive business practices, contact the Attorney General's Office at (315) 448-4848.
