GT car / Salesman - Shiraaz Sookralli - Champion Porsche's VP of Marketing
09-14-2018, 08:37 PM
#736
Three Wheelin'
We’ll, OP is right. He’s not made whole with a refund. He lost the opportunity to have a GT3. A refund is not whole. So, yeah, I agree it’s not good. But, it’s better than a total loss. It may be that whole is refund plus the dealer pays ADM to the buyer. Now wouldn’t that be a twist.
09-14-2018, 08:40 PM
#737
Race Director
Dan, you're an attorney .... QUESTION
"Klaus" bought a GT3 two months ago and was delivered to him. He had paid a $15K ADM which was fraudulently charged to him by Shiraaz. It went into his shill account. He was acting as a lone wolf as they claim, but still represented them. Was not a requirement by Champion. Does he have a case to try and get that back?? He's been doing this for years.
Champion's attorney admitted they knew about his former frauds and shill Rampage account. It seems like they're on the hook for some major damages. They knowingly continued to employ him. Victims can sue for damages as well I'm sure.
"Klaus" bought a GT3 two months ago and was delivered to him. He had paid a $15K ADM which was fraudulently charged to him by Shiraaz. It went into his shill account. He was acting as a lone wolf as they claim, but still represented them. Was not a requirement by Champion. Does he have a case to try and get that back?? He's been doing this for years.
Champion's attorney admitted they knew about his former frauds and shill Rampage account. It seems like they're on the hook for some major damages. They knowingly continued to employ him. Victims can sue for damages as well I'm sure.
09-14-2018, 08:54 PM
#738
Three Wheelin'
Regarding your hypothetical above, you have a legal conclusion that there was an ADM that was fraudulent. If that's accurate, a lawyer might be able to help recover assuming the perpetrator is not "judgment proof" and has the funds. But, that presupposes the ADM was actually fraudulent and, that's a step that can't be skipped and, must be proven first. If you're talking about pursuing Champion Porsche instead of Sookralli, you have to prove their culpability first. In fact, you have to prove Sookralli's culpability if you're pursuing against him too. Remember, it's possible Champion Porsche had no knowledge of Sookralli's alleged criminal conduct. Even so, there are respondeat superior laws that could apply to Champion Porsche. I would tell "Klaus" what I told OP. Report to police. Get a lawyer. You don't want legal advice over a forum, even if it's from an attorney. You want a lawyer in your jurisdiction (Florida) with access to all of the facts to give you options relative to the laws of that jurisdiction.
Dan (isn't giving legal advice)
09-14-2018, 08:57 PM
#739
Race Director
Thanks D ..
It seems like some attorney can form a class action lawsuit representing all affected victims present and past. I'm sure some are salivating at going after Champion after reading this story. These legal issues will drag on a LONG time (an assumption). Guys will be coming out of the woodwork over the past 10 years now.
I mean, if they can go after Porsche for tan dashboards and get free sunglasses and a small check!!
It seems like some attorney can form a class action lawsuit representing all affected victims present and past. I'm sure some are salivating at going after Champion after reading this story. These legal issues will drag on a LONG time (an assumption). Guys will be coming out of the woodwork over the past 10 years now.
I mean, if they can go after Porsche for tan dashboards and get free sunglasses and a small check!!
09-14-2018, 09:11 PM
#740
Rennlist Member
I had the same thought. Its not that much money and he had been working there for a long time why throw it all away now? If you read through all those docs it shows he had some serious money problems so maybe he was desperate and looking for a way out? People do crazy things all the time so I guess I am not that surprised.
Somehow, I doubt that he will be using any of this stolen money to pay child support for his 10 kids
09-14-2018, 09:15 PM
#741
Track Day
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It's a shrewed strategy. They knew the new Ford GT is worth alot (you can easily find buyers for the Ford GT for 2 million +) so even with the lawsuit from Ford, if you can handle the hassle/settlement with Ford, you can still make a profit flipping a GT.
But yeah basically greed is there as the primary driving factor.
Also this dude aparently had 10 kids and his wages were being garnished due to child support....so desperation was more like it too..people speculating he is in Indian now and has disappeared...may be VERY difficult to recover any money if he's escaped to a 3rd world country like that...
09-14-2018, 09:17 PM
#742
Race Director
Re: Dave Maraj's death
One article says was a boating accident, one says boat was docked and he apparently slipped and hit his head, another one says the police were called at 2:15 AM with report of a missing person.
Lots of mystery here ...
One article says was a boating accident, one says boat was docked and he apparently slipped and hit his head, another one says the police were called at 2:15 AM with report of a missing person.
Lots of mystery here ...
09-14-2018, 09:17 PM
#743
Race Director
Originally Posted by Marv800
Somehow, I doubt that he will be using any of this stolen money to pay child support for his 10 kids
Marv, always in for a good laugh ...
09-14-2018, 09:21 PM
#744
The perpetrator of this fraud was very aware of the weaknesses of the Champions "accounting controls." Which he easily circumvented and defrauded the company.
The question becomes - did the accounting firm who audits Champion provide Champion with the advice necessary to ensure those controls were in place?
So, the accounting firm is in a liability position. As is the bank, if they allowed the perpetrator to set up a personal account when the company expressly told the bank not to do such a thing.
09-14-2018, 09:32 PM
#746
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Very sketchy that the owner died in that "accidental drowning" as well earlier in the year. Wouldn't be surprised if this becomes an on-going investigation for long time.
Certianly seems like it would damage Champion's reputation.
I totally agree....my thought is who the hell would hand over $100K as a deposit....no way I would fall for that.....BUT.....
If I was talking to a longtime salesman, VP of whatever, at one of the largest dealers in the country and really wanted this car.....well, it's possible a lot of us could have fallen for it....
If I was talking to a longtime salesman, VP of whatever, at one of the largest dealers in the country and really wanted this car.....well, it's possible a lot of us could have fallen for it....
I briefly met a couple who is very successful in real estate here in Hawaii (and then expanding to other states of course). They are friends with billionaires (not billionaire themselves) and literally $100,000 to them is like dropping $100 to us mere mortals. The go on what would be lifetime dream vacations every other month. They easily net healthy 7 figures in profit annually.....
09-14-2018, 09:40 PM
#748
Three Wheelin'
Originally Posted by fuddman
This is a very good point.
The perpetrator of this fraud was very aware of the weaknesses of the Champions "accounting controls." Which he easily circumvented and defrauded the company.
The question becomes - did the accounting firm who audits Champion provide Champion with the advice necessary to ensure those controls were in place?
So, the accounting firm is in a liability position. As is the bank, if they allowed the perpetrator to set up a personal account when the company expressly told the bank not to do such a thing.
The perpetrator of this fraud was very aware of the weaknesses of the Champions "accounting controls." Which he easily circumvented and defrauded the company.
The question becomes - did the accounting firm who audits Champion provide Champion with the advice necessary to ensure those controls were in place?
So, the accounting firm is in a liability position. As is the bank, if they allowed the perpetrator to set up a personal account when the company expressly told the bank not to do such a thing.
09-14-2018, 09:41 PM
#749
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09-14-2018, 09:45 PM
#750
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I think it would be a little bit of a stretch to make the bank have any responsibility. A company opened a bank account and used it. Said company had nothing to do with the dealership. The dealership has no control over the bank giving an account to a business an employee operates independently.
Scumbag opened a shell company on his own OUTSIDE of the dealer company structure, and used his network/friendship/customer relation to scam well-meaning customers out of their money.
The more important thing is did the customers realize that "Champion Autosport" is not the same as "Champion Porsche?"