Jacksonville car dealership forced to pay more than one million in alleged defrauding scheme

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Loans were approved, papers signed, and keys exchanged.

But weeks after driving off the lot, buyers in Duval County discovered they weren't the legal owners of their new rides and the cars they used as trade-ins were not paid off.

“This was an example of motor fraud at its worse,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Moody told Action News Jax the state recovered $1.2 million in restitution and $235,000 from Riverside Chevrolet former owner Andrew Ferguson.

“Often this happens to our seniors and military personnel,” said Moody.

Janice Buckman and her husband are victims.

“It bothered us, and it messed our credit up,” Buckman said.

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After paying off a twenty-five-thousand-dollar loan for a truck the couple continued to get calls for payment.

“It was very frustrating for us to keep getting calls from your finance company asking where our payments are,” Buckman added.

The couple filed several complaints online

“Then the same guy who was our finance guy he was gone, he quit so something didn’t look right,” explained Buckman.

Last year the BBB gave Riverside Chevrolet an “f” rating after receiving more than a dozen customer complaints and reviews.

Shortly after that happened cars were set on fire at Riverside Chevrolet.

Then later a spokesperson told Action News Jax the business was under new management by Beaver Toyota of St. Augustine.

“You think everyone is legit, it could happen again,” Buckman said.

The Buckman’s are now keeping a close eye on their money.

“This was a great victory for us,” Buckman said.

The attorney general says they’re working with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor vehicles for a week-long campaign called “Steer Clear of Fraud”

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