Four people are facing several charges in Franklin County for their roles in a year-long, multi-state car fraud operation that cost dozens of buyers thousands of dollars, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Trevor Daniels, Frank Burrell, Stephanie Hetzer, and Virgie Waters were accused when it was discovered that the group conducted an odometer fraud scam between spring 2023 and fall 2024 at Trust Auto Outlet LLC, a used car dealership in Guilford Township.
Police said they tampered with the odometers of at least 33 high-mileage automobiles, causing them to show much lower mileage, and then resold them at inflated rates throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia.
According to authorities, the group deleted over 2.3 million miles of wear and tear, causing victim losses of more than $100,000, with individual losses ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Evidence gathered during search warrants included odometer “correction” devices, altered instrument clusters, forged titles, and sales documents linking the accused to the fraudulent conduct.
The group is now facing charges for odometer fraud, fraudulent business operations, conspiracy, forgery, and violations of the Pennsylvania Board of Vehicles Act, according to police.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with fraudulent odometer readings, costing American consumers more than $1 billion yearly.
The NHTSA stated that identifying odometer fraud might be difficult; however, they provide the following tips:
- Check the title for mileage and compare it with the odometer. Be sure to watch for signs of tampering, such as unclear or altered mileage notations.
- Compare mileage records, like maintenance or inspection documents and oil change stickers.
- Inspect the tires. If the odometer on your vehicle is under 20,000 miles or less, it should still have original tires.
- Look for wear and tear (especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals) that matches the reported mileage.
- Get a vehicle history report using the VIN to spot any mileage discrepancies.
- Report suspected fraud to your state’s enforcement agency.