Stolen Charger Sale Prompts $1M Fraud Lawsuit

## Conroe Couple Sues After $60,000 Dodge Charger Discovered Stolen, VIN Altered

**CONROE, TX – May 21, 2024** – A Conroe couple who paid $60,000 in cash for what they believed was a pristine 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack found themselves out a vehicle and their money last year when police confiscated the car, revealing it had been reported stolen and its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) altered. Now, Ryan and Lindsey Garcia are suing the sellers, Mario and Maria Gonzalez, and a related business, Hemi Performance LLC, seeking substantial damages.

The Garcias filed their lawsuit in Montgomery County’s 457th District Court on May 16, 2024, alleging fraud, negligence, breach of contract, and other claims. They are seeking between $250,000 and $1 million in damages, arguing they were sold a stolen vehicle and that the defendants either knew or should have known its illicit origins.

The ordeal began in February 2023, when the Garcias purchased the high-performance Charger from Mario and Maria Gonzalez. The transaction, involving a significant sum of $60,000 in cash, reportedly took place at a lot associated with Hemi Performance LLC, a business run by Steven Hemi out of Houston. According to the Garcias, the sale appeared legitimate, even including the presence of a notary for the bill of sale.

The situation took a dramatic turn in November 2023. Ryan Garcia was driving the Charger when he was pulled over by the Conroe Police Department. During the routine traffic stop, officers ran the vehicle’s VIN. That’s when the Garcias’ nightmare began: police records indicated the Charger had been reported stolen out of Houston in 2020. Furthermore, investigators discovered that the VIN on the vehicle had apparently been altered in an attempt to mask its true identity, a common tactic used in vehicle theft and re-sale schemes.

The Conroe Police Department promptly confiscated the Dodge Charger as stolen property, leaving the Garcias without their newly purchased vehicle and the $60,000 they had paid. The vehicle is now likely being held as evidence in an ongoing criminal investigation related to its theft and alteration.

In their lawsuit, the Garcias assert that the Gonzaleses and Hemi Performance LLC bear responsibility for their financial loss and emotional distress. They contend that the sellers had a duty to ensure the legality of the vehicle being sold and that their actions, or inactions, constituted a deceptive trade practice.

Steven Hemi of Hemi Performance LLC has maintained that his company was not directly involved in the transaction. He asserts that the Gonzaleses merely used his lot as a meeting place for the sale. However, the Garcias’ complaint suggests his name or company appeared on documents associated with the sale, linking Hemi Performance LLC to the transaction in their view.

The case highlights the significant risks consumers face when purchasing vehicles through private sales, particularly when dealing with cash transactions and non-traditional dealerships. Vehicle theft, VIN cloning, and the re-sale of stolen cars remain persistent issues, often leaving innocent buyers with substantial financial losses and no recourse other than lengthy legal battles.

The Garcias’ attorney, who was not immediately available for comment, is pushing for full compensation for the purchase price of the vehicle, as well as additional damages for fraud, legal fees, and the emotional toll of the ordeal. The lawsuit is expected to proceed through the Montgomery County court system, where both sides will present their arguments regarding responsibility for the alleged fraudulent sale.