0 EXCLUSIVE: Investigators raid Rome car dealership

ROME, Ga. - Only Channel 2 Action News was there as state revenue investigators and Rome police raided a car dealership, accused in a scheme to steal tax money.



Investigators told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne there are similar investigations underway across the state.



The Georgia Department of Revenue says more than 100 hundred car sales may turn out to be involved in the scheme with tax loss potentially running into six figures.



Rome Police Investigator Jeff Richerson says one or more workers at Car Xpress allegedly collected ad valorem tax from car buyers and forged the buyers’ signatures to show trade-ins that never took place.



That would then make net sales prices look lower to tax authorities than it really was, along with the tax owed.



“We’re investigating a complaint about some paperwork discrepancies and some theft of ad valorem tax,” Richerson said. “The money that should be being paid to the tax is not being paid.”



Richerson says authorities believe Raymond Smith runs Car Xpress. Winne tried to ask him if there was any fraud going on at the dealership, but Smith refused to answer any of his questions.



Chief Josh Waites, with the Department of Revenue, says schemes like the one they are investigating at Car Xpress are becoming more popular.



“We're investigating similar schemes throughout the state, and this is becoming a large problem,” Waites said.



Winne talked with Bonnie Bentley, whose car was involved in the scheme. Winne asked her if she traded in her car.



“No, I did not do a trade-in,” Bentley said.



“They collected her money, forged her name and pocketed $203 of the $250 they collected for the benefit of the state,” Waites said.



So far, no one from the dealership has been charged. Investigators are still sorting through what they seized Thursday.



Waites said they are working to come up with the total amount of money, they say, was stolen and pursue charges from there.