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Hallo passionate Porsche friends!
The Women in Porsche organization cancelled a women's retreat around the LA Auto Show in which we were to attend. The founder, Laurina Esposito, of Esposito Restoration in LA still brought 2 cars to display but cancelled the retreat and after many attempts, has not refunded our money. We all paid 4 figures for this event.
Women in Porsche founder, Laurina Esposito.
Last edited by LongHairHevyFoot; 12-01-2021 at 10:31 PM.
Sounds like this was theft and that is a crime. Gender doesn't apply here. I would encourage all of you to call the police and have them file a report as that's a criminal offense and not a civil matter...
Reporting a crime to the police means they will investigate and charge her if they find victims were wronged.
Currently looking into the matter. What is most unfortunate is that they have filed bankruptcy, so likely nothing to pay us back. Hopefully can, at a minimum, put an end to this affecting more people than it already has.
Sounds like this was theft and that is a crime. Gender doesn't apply here. I would encourage all of you to call the police and have them file a report as that's a criminal offense and not a civil matter...
Reporting a crime to the police means they will investigate and charge her if they find victims were wronged.
It has now been brought to our attention that ZERO dollars of the WiP partnered charity has actually gone to the charity. So all of us who purchased the $125 yearly membership which was supposed to have $75 donated to Drive Toward a Cure with the tax write off, was never, in fact donated. From my group alone, it was 12 of us. So $900 withheld from the CHARITY.
Just because they have filed bankruptcy doesn't mean they have no assets. Also this seems like it could also be considered a criminal matter with additional penalties especially if done over "wire." I'm a creditor in a separate matter against Espo.
Wow, this sounds terrible. There is so much positivity generated on social media but it turns my stomach to hear their true colors. Now we know.
Originally Posted by TheBen
Just because they have filed bankruptcy doesn't mean they have no assets. Also this seems like it could also be considered a criminal matter with additional penalties especially if done over "wire." I'm a creditor in a separate matter against Espo.
Yeah they are using social media to defraud people which is really sadistic and after I saw them at the LA Auto Show just had to speak up. Yeah they have assets as sounds like a 73 Porsche 911 is in the bankruptcy case too after reading as they just had a hearing on it. Wire fraud is a serious crime and prosecutable under the full extent of the law. I hope you all get some justice from these thugs...
She has apparently, based upon all of the Internet comments in Porsche forums, been defrauding Porsche people of their money for a long time. How she is not in jail or worse is beyond me. Porsche people, please, please, please, before you take your car into a shop spend some time searching that shops history with the BBB, Bureau of Automobile Repair, etc.
She looks crazier than a bag of cats. I wish you the best, though its highly unlikely that you get any money back. This “article” certainly doesn’t help;
Documentation of confirmed & potential frauds and scams by John & Laurina Esposito & Gustavo Flores, John Esposito Restoration, EspoResto, Women Porsche / WIP, Et all…
Overview
This document is a mix of confirmed crimes which have been litigated in court as well as accusations that have not… parties that have been affected these are their stories… This is no substitute for legal advice.
Goals
Get press involved, possibly Joel Grover investigative reporter for NBC LA
Get law enforcement involved, police reports filed, detective involve
Get DA involved
Get bureau of automotive repair involved, operating without a license
Get all parties reimbursed (sad but hard to imagine will happen)
Shut down Espo
Get them arrested
Shut down Instagram handles; all WiP, espo
Inform WIP & Porsche community
Litigated Cases
Restoration design Canada
Benjamin Shahrabani won
Brian Sherry won case in Superior court for unpaid wages
Bankruptcy $2.1 liability & judgement/claims
Many more! See bankruptcy claims
Unlitigated Cases
Unpaid wages both WIP & Espo, loan fraud since didn’t pay employees
Susana $4500
Shon Monroe $?
Vanessa Huertas
Robert Ginsburg. $140k judgement in state court. Now pursuing in bankruptcy court trying to get a stay from the proceedings due to potential theft, fraud etc.
WIP / Women In Porsche claims
Many women paid $1000’s for a retreat Laurina cancelled & wouldn’t reimburse.
Drive Toward a Cure
Charity donations included in membership not dispersed to charity, no tax forms were issued $1000’s
Retreat canceled not reimbursed approx $1100-1600+ per person, 26 people, $20-40,000 collected
Membership dues not reimbursed
Membership merchandise never sent
Directors concerned about signing non-disparagement agreements
EspoResto claims
Mailani $15,000?
Keith
Andreas, Germany, Carpoint.de manufacture spare parts for Porsches.
Laurina got parts from us and I bought cars from her. missing 100,000 USD
If somebody gets our money out of her I am ready to pay 1/3 of whatever is collected as a fee
Bill Kelly sold 72 911 to John which was used as compensation to an employee who has the title in his possession. Then John “sold” it to Paolo.. Paolo spent well over six figures to Laurina to restore his car and barely any work has been done on it. He is one of the original people I spoke with when Andreas and Milani were trying to get a case together about 6 months ago.
Formerly her fathers shop (she took ownership from him after he was sued and declared bankruptcy) who had a great reputation that she has spiraled while trying to save. A Porsche repair shop that lost their license to repair, was locked out of their facility due to nonpayment of rent, downsized tremendously, numerous employees complaining of non-payment (current & former), bounced many checks with many vendors, lies, deceit, scamming.
She is pregnant, due January, living with boyfriend Gus her painter employee half owner in EspoResto/WIP still married with kids…
Due to her downturn in business she’s trying to capitalize on charging for membership to bring in Porsche Women and capture the eye of the Porsche world. It’s surprising who would want to align with someone who exhibits these characteristics.
The Instagram account @WomenInPorsche is partly made of purchased bot followers. The engagement of post likes/comments doesn’t match. Many of the posts are pictures taken from years earlier, she does not engage with the community as much as she claims until again very recently trying to capitalize on press she begs to receive.
ALERT: There are 2 PPP loans for a total of $263,277 in our database for businesses with the name "John Esposito Porsche Restorations" in North Hollywood, CA. This this is typically due to the same business receiving both first and second-draw loans, but may also include similarly named but unrelated businesses, multiple branches of the same business, mistaken multiple applications, or potential fraud. Click each loan below to see full details.
$123,277 Loan - Subchapter S Corporation - March, 2021
Lender: JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
$140,000 Loan - Subchapter S Corporation - May, 2020
ALERT: There are 2 PPP loans for a total of $149,121 in our database for businesses with the name "Women In Porsche" in North Hollywood, CA. This this is typically due to the same business receiving both first and second-draw loans, but may also include similarly named but unrelated businesses, multiple branches of the same business, mistaken multiple applications, or potential fraud. Click each loan below to see full details.
$118,891 Loan - Subchapter S Corporation - March, 2021
Lender: Customers Bank
$30,230 Loan - Subchapter S Corporation - May, 2020
12-01-2021, 10:23 PM
Alert: Women in Porsche
