Columbia Car Dealer Sentenced in Fraud Scheme

The owner of a Columbia used car sales company was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being convicted of wire fraud for depositing $139,788 in fradulent checks.

Taurus F. Dean, Sr., 44, the owner of Leggs Automotive Group, used his banks' remote deposit system to redeposit checks he had already previously deposited by altering the check numbers on the bottom to trick the bank into believing the checks were new, according to the Maryland U.S. Attorney's office.

Dean, of Centreville, VA, received the legitimate checks from other car dealers and a car auction company for payment of cars he sold, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Dean used the additional money from the redeposited checks to pay for vacations, clothing, dining and entertainment, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

As part of Dean's plea agreement, he agreed to pay restitution of $139,788.

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