DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.,None — DeKalb County police and state investigators received the same tip as a Channel 2 viewer, that a home on Covington Highway was actually an unlicensed used car dealer selling clunkers to its customers.
"I'm furious," customer Lakeshia Greene said.
The car she got from the lot can't leave her driveway. The "check engine" light is on and it needs major work to pass emissions.
Greene said she has already replaced the tires. She showed Channel 2's Jim Strickland a tire worn to its steel belts.
"Knowing I have a 2-year-old son, he endangered my life and the life of my son bringing a tire with the wiring out of it," said Greene.
The front yard on Covington Highway has several cars in front, at least two with "for sale" signs posted.
The back yard is overrun with junkers.
Records indicate the man in charge is Garland Falana. He didn't answer when Strickland pounded on the door. He did, however, answer Strickland's phone call.
"I just checked with the Secretary of State. You don't have a license. What's the deal with that?" Strickland asked. Falana refused to answer or return to the lot.
"This is below the belt to be doing this to a lot of people. I just thought it was me," said Greene.
In DeKalb County electronic court records, Strickland found Falana named as defendant in more than a dozen small claims cases.
Cora Peavy won her lawsuit and met Strickland in Decatur.
"And I'm out $2,700 and I took him to court," Peavy said.
Strickland asked Peavey how much money has been paid and Peavy said, "Zero dollars."
Greene said she doesn't expect to get her money back, but she doesn't want state investigators to take notice.
The Secretary of State's office said they can't comment on any investigation that may or may not be going on.