South Fulton County

State investigators raid car dealerships accused of selling illegal tags

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Only Channel 2 Action News was with state revenue agents Monday as they arrested a car dealer accused of selling temporary car tags online.

Agents expect to get arrest warrants for two more dealers.

State agents say forged temporary tags can expose you if you're in a crash and can make it hard to expose bad guys who drive around but don't want to get caught.

Car dealer Joshua Allen told Channel 2 consumer investigators Jim Strickland that he was unaware getting caught on surveillance video selling a tag in a parking lot could bring a felony charge.

State revenue agents said it's a serious crime.

“We have no idea who that tag belongs to. You can make up names, addresses, insurance coverage. We've got dealers that are just printing tags for anybody for money,” said Josh Waites, chief of revenue investigations.

Allen told agents he'd been working with another dealer headquartered in a Godby Road office building.

David Omakwu has had his privilege to print temporarily suspended.

“He absolutely is a suspect in this,” Waites said.

“You deny any involvement in the illegal selling of tags on Craigslist?” Strickland asked Omakwu.

“Absolutely. I don't know anything about Craigslist, and I would never sell a tag like that,” Omakwu said.

While this is only the first of several arrests expected, Department of Revenue agents gave the go ahead to expose their operation.

They say all dealers know the rules and ought to follow them, including Allen.

“I wouldn't just be doing something illegal. I try to get off the streets. You see what I’m saying?” Allen said.

As Strickland was getting ready for his live shot for Channel 2 Action News at 6 p.m. Monday, Allen’s family members came by to retrieve his car. It had a temporary tag on it. The family’s car had one as well.