DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Only Channel 2 Action News was there as state revenue agents converged on a DeKalb County auto dealership.
Our investigation four months ago exposed how the dealer's temporary tags were not so temporary.
Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland was with the agents when they busted the owner Thursday.
When agents arrested the owner, it was a case of bad timing and worse luck for a customer who'd just handed over a wad of cash.
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Dealership owner Terrance Beasley surrendered to authorities after first locking himself in the dealership office when investigators arrived Thursday afternoon.
In his pockets agents found $700 in cash.
“A customer who'd just came here to buy a car, told us afterwards that he had just given that guy $500,” said State Department of Revenue Chief Investigator Josh Waites.
The customer didn't want to talk about the fact his money is, at least for now, tied up as evidence in the case state revenue is building.
“He submitted fraudulent paperwork to the state in an attempt to get temporary tags for his customers,’ Waites told Channel 2’s Jim Strickland.
“Did you print up hundreds of temporary tags with no real sales to back them?” Strickland asked Beasley.
“You'll have to speak to my lawyer,” the car dealer said.
Customer Serigne Diop is on his second tag. It expires Tuesday and the tag office can't verify his purchase.
“They told me that you need the title and I tell him the car tag is going to expire, it's not going to wait,” Diop said.
State agents said Beasley is facing one count but many more are likely.
He's already been questioned once. The state said he likely knew an arrest was coming.
Waites said they'll work with Beasley's lawyer to enter into the record about the cash so the $500 can get released to its rightful owner.
The state Revenue Department is advising customers who have the temporary tag from the dealership to advise their local tag offices they are victims in this case.
The Department of Revenue said they’ll work with the counties in hopes of straightening out the paperwork.
Cox Media Group
