All Tune & Lube Thousands spent & overcharged still no engine replaced 4 months & waiting Hampton Virginia

Auto shop owner pleads guilty to bilking customers
Posted to: Crime News Norfolk

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
April 16, 2008
NORFOLK

In hindsight, Vince Miller knows he should have checked out the mechanic he picked from the phone book.

If he had, he would have discovered multiple judgements against the All Tune and Lube shop owner, Charles E. Perry Jr., and a history of customer gripes.

Instead, Miller was swindled twice by Perry - once when Perry installed a junk engine in his truck and again when Perry stole Miller's identity, according to federal prosecutors' court filings.

On Tuesday, Perry pleaded guilty to two federal felonies. He faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced in July.

Perry, 45, of Suffolk, admitted in court that he used his All Tune and Lube auto repair shops as a conduit for fraudulent activities, including stealing customers' identities for financial gain and performing deceptive repair jobs.

Perry owned three of the shops, located on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach and West Mercury Boulevard in Hampton. Other All Tune and Lube shops are independently operated.

After Perry's arrest in March, a federal magistrate called him "an economic danger to the community" and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of his case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Krask said in court that he and the FBI believe Perry defrauded customers and financial institutions out of more than $500,000 over the past five years. They have seized most of Perry's assets in an attempt to repay the victims.

"He seemed like a pretty nice guy," Miller said Tuesday. "I trusted him."

Last September, Miller had returned from a trip to Wyoming, driving there in his 1999 Isuzu Trooper. He beat the 4-wheeler up pretty good and ended up towing it to Virginia Beach after blowing the engine.

He called a few mechanics in the phone book and settled on Perry's shop on East Little Creek Road. Perry had quoted him the cheapest price for a new engine.

"I had just gotten out of the mountains. I was feeling pretty good and pretty relaxed," Miller said. "I kind of fell for it."

Perry had the truck for six weeks before returning it, supposedly with a new engine. A few weeks after that, Miller had to bring the Trooper back to Perry because of loud engine noises. When Miller got it back the second time, he said the engine "blew up" within 24 hours.

Miller took it to another mechanic, who reported that the "new" engine appeared to be from a junk yard. According to court filings, Perry routinely used junk yard engines and told customers they were new or rebuilt. Other times, he simply spray-painted over the old engines to make them look new. He also routinely billed customers for work never done.

At the same time, Perry stole customers' names and credit information, including Miller's, to open charge accounts. He received more than $156,000 in cash advances and used those accounts to pay for business expenses. Krask said in court filings that he believes the losses could grow higher than $500,000 as more customers come forward.

In an effort to repay the victims, Perry agreed to forfeit the equity in his house as well as several vehicles, including a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Miller, who has already received a $4,500 judgment against Perry through the Norfolk courts, doubts he'll ever get his money back. He said he's learned a tough lesson.

Had Miller or others checked out Perry, they would have discovered dozens of judgments against him in the local courts for unscrupulous service and complaints with ripoffreport.com and the Better Business Bureau.

A deeper background check would have uncovered Perry's felony convictions for bad checks, obtaining money by false pretenses, and drug offenses. He was on probation while committing the current offenses, according to court records. "To be honest," Miller said, "I should have never driven down Little Creek Road."

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com




http://hamptonroads.com/node/471025


His property (Until recently) was owned by a Senior Officer of the corporate office; The man is question used to work directly for Corpoate

Auto shop owner pleads guilty to bilking customers
Posted to: Crime News Norfolk

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
April 16, 2008
NORFOLK

In hindsight, Vince Miller knows he should have checked out the mechanic he picked from the phone book.

If he had, he would have discovered multiple judgements against the All Tune and Lube shop owner, Charles E. Perry Jr., and a history of customer gripes.

Instead, Miller was swindled twice by Perry - once when Perry installed a junk engine in his truck and again when Perry stole Miller's identity, according to federal prosecutors' court filings.

On Tuesday, Perry pleaded guilty to two federal felonies. He faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced in July.

Perry, 45, of Suffolk, admitted in court that he used his All Tune and Lube auto repair shops as a conduit for fraudulent activities, including stealing customers' identities for financial gain and performing deceptive repair jobs.

Perry owned three of the shops, located on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach and West Mercury Boulevard in Hampton. Other All Tune and Lube shops are independently operated.

After Perry's arrest in March, a federal magistrate called him "an economic danger to the community" and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of his case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Krask said in court that he and the FBI believe Perry defrauded customers and financial institutions out of more than $500,000 over the past five years. They have seized most of Perry's assets in an attempt to repay the victims.

"He seemed like a pretty nice guy," Miller said Tuesday. "I trusted him."

Last September, Miller had returned from a trip to Wyoming, driving there in his 1999 Isuzu Trooper. He beat the 4-wheeler up pretty good and ended up towing it to Virginia Beach after blowing the engine.

He called a few mechanics in the phone book and settled on Perry's shop on East Little Creek Road. Perry had quoted him the cheapest price for a new engine.

"I had just gotten out of the mountains. I was feeling pretty good and pretty relaxed," Miller said. "I kind of fell for it."

Perry had the truck for six weeks before returning it, supposedly with a new engine. A few weeks after that, Miller had to bring the Trooper back to Perry because of loud engine noises. When Miller got it back the second time, he said the engine "blew up" within 24 hours.

Miller took it to another mechanic, who reported that the "new" engine appeared to be from a junk yard. According to court filings, Perry routinely used junk yard engines and told customers they were new or rebuilt. Other times, he simply spray-painted over the old engines to make them look new. He also routinely billed customers for work never done.

At the same time, Perry stole customers' names and credit information, including Miller's, to open charge accounts. He received more than $156,000 in cash advances and used those accounts to pay for business expenses. Krask said in court filings that he believes the losses could grow higher than $500,000 as more customers come forward.

In an effort to repay the victims, Perry agreed to forfeit the equity in his house as well as several vehicles, including a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Miller, who has already received a $4,500 judgment against Perry through the Norfolk courts, doubts he'll ever get his money back. He said he's learned a tough lesson.

Had Miller or others checked out Perry, they would have discovered dozens of judgments against him in the local courts for unscrupulous service and complaints with ripoffreport.com and the Better Business Bureau.

A deeper background check would have uncovered Perry's felony convictions for bad checks, obtaining money by false pretenses, and drug offenses. He was on probation while committing the current offenses, according to court records. "To be honest," Miller said, "I should have never driven down Little Creek Road."

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com




http://hamptonroads.com/node/471025


His property (Until recently) was owned by a Senior Officer of the corporate office; The man is question used to work directly for Corpoate

Auto shop owner pleads guilty to bilking customers
Posted to: Crime News Norfolk

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
April 16, 2008
NORFOLK

In hindsight, Vince Miller knows he should have checked out the mechanic he picked from the phone book.

If he had, he would have discovered multiple judgements against the All Tune and Lube shop owner, Charles E. Perry Jr., and a history of customer gripes.

Instead, Miller was swindled twice by Perry - once when Perry installed a junk engine in his truck and again when Perry stole Miller's identity, according to federal prosecutors' court filings.

On Tuesday, Perry pleaded guilty to two federal felonies. He faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced in July.

Perry, 45, of Suffolk, admitted in court that he used his All Tune and Lube auto repair shops as a conduit for fraudulent activities, including stealing customers' identities for financial gain and performing deceptive repair jobs.

Perry owned three of the shops, located on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach and West Mercury Boulevard in Hampton. Other All Tune and Lube shops are independently operated.

After Perry's arrest in March, a federal magistrate called him "an economic danger to the community" and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of his case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Krask said in court that he and the FBI believe Perry defrauded customers and financial institutions out of more than $500,000 over the past five years. They have seized most of Perry's assets in an attempt to repay the victims.

"He seemed like a pretty nice guy," Miller said Tuesday. "I trusted him."

Last September, Miller had returned from a trip to Wyoming, driving there in his 1999 Isuzu Trooper. He beat the 4-wheeler up pretty good and ended up towing it to Virginia Beach after blowing the engine.

He called a few mechanics in the phone book and settled on Perry's shop on East Little Creek Road. Perry had quoted him the cheapest price for a new engine.

"I had just gotten out of the mountains. I was feeling pretty good and pretty relaxed," Miller said. "I kind of fell for it."

Perry had the truck for six weeks before returning it, supposedly with a new engine. A few weeks after that, Miller had to bring the Trooper back to Perry because of loud engine noises. When Miller got it back the second time, he said the engine "blew up" within 24 hours.

Miller took it to another mechanic, who reported that the "new" engine appeared to be from a junk yard. According to court filings, Perry routinely used junk yard engines and told customers they were new or rebuilt. Other times, he simply spray-painted over the old engines to make them look new. He also routinely billed customers for work never done.

At the same time, Perry stole customers' names and credit information, including Miller's, to open charge accounts. He received more than $156,000 in cash advances and used those accounts to pay for business expenses. Krask said in court filings that he believes the losses could grow higher than $500,000 as more customers come forward.

In an effort to repay the victims, Perry agreed to forfeit the equity in his house as well as several vehicles, including a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Miller, who has already received a $4,500 judgment against Perry through the Norfolk courts, doubts he'll ever get his money back. He said he's learned a tough lesson.

Had Miller or others checked out Perry, they would have discovered dozens of judgments against him in the local courts for unscrupulous service and complaints with ripoffreport.com and the Better Business Bureau.

A deeper background check would have uncovered Perry's felony convictions for bad checks, obtaining money by false pretenses, and drug offenses. He was on probation while committing the current offenses, according to court records. "To be honest," Miller said, "I should have never driven down Little Creek Road."

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com




http://hamptonroads.com/node/471025


His property (Until recently) was owned by a Senior Officer of the corporate office; The man is question used to work directly for Corpoate

Auto shop owner pleads guilty to bilking customers
Posted to: Crime News Norfolk

By Tim McGlone
The Virginian-Pilot
April 16, 2008
NORFOLK

In hindsight, Vince Miller knows he should have checked out the mechanic he picked from the phone book.

If he had, he would have discovered multiple judgements against the All Tune and Lube shop owner, Charles E. Perry Jr., and a history of customer gripes.

Instead, Miller was swindled twice by Perry - once when Perry installed a junk engine in his truck and again when Perry stole Miller's identity, according to federal prosecutors' court filings.

On Tuesday, Perry pleaded guilty to two federal felonies. He faces a minimum of two years in prison and a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced in July.

Perry, 45, of Suffolk, admitted in court that he used his All Tune and Lube auto repair shops as a conduit for fraudulent activities, including stealing customers' identities for financial gain and performing deceptive repair jobs.

Perry owned three of the shops, located on East Little Creek Road in Norfolk, Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach and West Mercury Boulevard in Hampton. Other All Tune and Lube shops are independently operated.

After Perry's arrest in March, a federal magistrate called him "an economic danger to the community" and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of his case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Krask said in court that he and the FBI believe Perry defrauded customers and financial institutions out of more than $500,000 over the past five years. They have seized most of Perry's assets in an attempt to repay the victims.

"He seemed like a pretty nice guy," Miller said Tuesday. "I trusted him."

Last September, Miller had returned from a trip to Wyoming, driving there in his 1999 Isuzu Trooper. He beat the 4-wheeler up pretty good and ended up towing it to Virginia Beach after blowing the engine.

He called a few mechanics in the phone book and settled on Perry's shop on East Little Creek Road. Perry had quoted him the cheapest price for a new engine.

"I had just gotten out of the mountains. I was feeling pretty good and pretty relaxed," Miller said. "I kind of fell for it."

Perry had the truck for six weeks before returning it, supposedly with a new engine. A few weeks after that, Miller had to bring the Trooper back to Perry because of loud engine noises. When Miller got it back the second time, he said the engine "blew up" within 24 hours.

Miller took it to another mechanic, who reported that the "new" engine appeared to be from a junk yard. According to court filings, Perry routinely used junk yard engines and told customers they were new or rebuilt. Other times, he simply spray-painted over the old engines to make them look new. He also routinely billed customers for work never done.

At the same time, Perry stole customers' names and credit information, including Miller's, to open charge accounts. He received more than $156,000 in cash advances and used those accounts to pay for business expenses. Krask said in court filings that he believes the losses could grow higher than $500,000 as more customers come forward.

In an effort to repay the victims, Perry agreed to forfeit the equity in his house as well as several vehicles, including a 2006 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Miller, who has already received a $4,500 judgment against Perry through the Norfolk courts, doubts he'll ever get his money back. He said he's learned a tough lesson.

Had Miller or others checked out Perry, they would have discovered dozens of judgments against him in the local courts for unscrupulous service and complaints with ripoffreport.com and the Better Business Bureau.

A deeper background check would have uncovered Perry's felony convictions for bad checks, obtaining money by false pretenses, and drug offenses. He was on probation while committing the current offenses, according to court records. "To be honest," Miller said, "I should have never driven down Little Creek Road."

Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com




http://hamptonroads.com/node/471025


His property (Until recently) was owned by a Senior Officer of the corporate office; The man is question used to work directly for Corpoate