Slay Probe of Collin Thomas Uncovered Car Scam at Universal Auto World That Supplied “Drug Dealers, Pimps, and Gang leaders,” Pamela Geller listed as Co-Owner of Car Dealership.

Monday, August 02, 2010.

August 2nd 2010, Slay Probe Uncovered Car Scam, Murder of Collin Thomas Still Unsolved, none of the car scam defendants jailed, why the stall almost three years later?

Universal Auto Sales, LLC DBA Universal Auto World, Christ Tsiropoulos, Rajmohan Autar, Nazeem Mohamed, Haimraj Prashad and several others still not jailed?

See New York State Department of Corrections Website http://nysdocslookup.docs.state.ny.us/kinqw00  Tsiropoulos, Autar, Mohamed and Prashad arrested and were facing 7 to 15 years in prison, no record of them jailed, that was December 2007,  almost three years ago?

Stephen Singer, a Queens attorney who represents Christ Tsiropoulos of Bellmore, his photo above, the co-owner of Universal Auto who has been charged in the scheme, said only: “We have yet to take a plea.”   Singer wouldn’t discuss the false identity scam.

The investigation of the murder of a salesman at Lawrence car dealership, Universal Auto World, has uncovered a scam that supplied “drug dealers, pimps, and gang leaders” with luxury autos under stolen identities.

In one case, middlemen working with the Five Towns business used the stolen identity of a 75-year-old Bay Shore woman to purchase a total of $250,000 in automobiles, including a 2005 Maserati, a 2007 Jaguar and a 2006 BMW, prosecutors said.

“We have smashed a used car dealership crime ring at Universal Auto World that has ripped off dozens of consumers and put scores of high-end automobiles in the hands of underground characters who for one reason or another would rather remain on the radar of law enforcement,” said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

The probe began with the Jan. 11, 2007, slaying of Collin Thomas, who was fatally shot in the back outside the offices of Universal Auto World where the 27-year-old worked as a car salesman.  NYS Division of Corporations website lists the mailing address for Universal Auto Sales, LLC DBA Universal Auto Word as Harbor Rd Hewlett Harbor, New York (Long Island).  The co-owners were Michael Oshry, Pamlea (Oshry) Geller and Christ Tsiropoulos as listed in New York State records.

UNIVERSAL AUTO SALES LLC, DBA Universal Auto Word.
HARBOR ROAD, HEWLETT HARBOR, NEW YORK 11557
NYS Dept. of Corporation Records, Oshry residence.
Selected Entity Name: UNIVERSAL AUTO SALES LLC
Initial DOS Filing Date: JANUARY 04, 2006
County: NASSAU
Jurisdiction: NEW YORK
Entity Type: DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Current Entity Status: ACTIVE
Selected Entity Address Information DOS Process
(Address to which DOS will mail process if accepted on behalf of the entity)
UNIVERSAL AUTO SALES LLC
HARBOR ROAD
HEWLETT HARBOR, NEW YORK, 11557

Rice, speaking at a press conference, declined to discuss any leads in the murder case of Collin Thomas, which so far has not netted any arrests. “It’s a highly active investigation,” she said.

But Nassau County detectives working the homicide uncovered numerous instances of fraud at the dealership, which sparked a broader investigation that teamed up the police department’s crimes against property squad, the district attorneys’ economic crimes bureau and the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Prosecutors explained that the scheme at Universal Auto World involved middle men who used stolen identities to purchase luxury cars in the victims’ names, as well as “straw buyers” who sold their own identities and filled out loan paperwork for the same purpose.

The vehicles, purchased with the fraudulent credit information, were then turned over to “known” drug dealers and other criminals.  “This enables them to ride around in their luxury car but not have law enforcement know it’s their car,” explained Diane Peress, head of the district attorney’s economic crimes bureau.  “It’s better to have it in someone else’s name.”  

Peress said the corruption at Universal “went all the way to the top.” Michael Oshry, Pamlea (Oshry) Geller and Christ Tsiropoulous were listed as co-owners in the New York State records.  Michael Oshry’s ex-wife, Pamela Geller, her photo above, former associate publisher of the New York Observer and a conservative blogger on Atlas Shrugs, burst into tears when told her ex is under criminal investigation. Although listed in business records as a Universal co-owner, Pamela (Oshry) Geller denied it. “I have nothing to do with this,” Pamela Geller said.

Among the 11 people arrested in the probe was Christ Tsiropoulos, 38, of Bellmore, the former general manager and co-owner of Universal, and Mark Haley, 30, of Far Rockaway, the dealership’s former finance manager.

Jul 23, 2008, Universal Auto World Defendants, short list;
Universal Auto Sales, LLC DBA Universal Auto World, located at 711 Burnside Avenue in Lawrence, is charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, seven counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and 16 counts of Falsification of Business Records in the First Degree. It is represented by Joseph Gentile, Esq.

Christ Tsiropoulos, 38, of Bellmore is the former general manager and co-owner of Universal Auto Sales, LLC. He was arrested in December 4, 2007 and charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, seven counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and 16 counts of Falsification of Business Records in the First Degree. He is represented by Steven Singer, Esq. He is facing a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Rajmohan Autar, 33, of Queens Village was arrested in January 4, 2008 and charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, seven counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and 14 counts of Falsification of Business Records in the First Degree. He is represented by David Mirsky, Esq. He is facing a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Nazeem Mohamed, 43, of Richmond Hill was arrested in December 5, 2007 and charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and five counts of Falsification of Business Records in the First Degree. He is represented by Nick Marino Esq. He is facing a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Haimraj Prashad, 38, of Jamaica, Queens was arrested in December 5, 2007 and charged with Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, four counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and four counts of Falsification of Business Records in the First Degree. He is represented by Rovshan Sharov, Esq. He is facing a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted.
 

Bill Warner Private Investigator, SEX, CRIME, CHEATERS & TERRORISM