Robert McLane, Mail Fraud, Vermont 2025

Burlington, Vermont – Former Parts Manager Robert McLane, 36, of Websterville, Vermont, has been ordered to serve 18 months in prison for defrauding his employer, Formula Nissan, Inc. Chief U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss sentenced McLane to three years of supervised release following completion of his prison term.

McLane will also have to pay restitution in the amount of $566,000. He was ordered to surrender to the United States Bureau of Prisons on April 4, 2025, to begin serving his sentence.

According to court records, between March 2019 and September 23, 2022, McLane was employed by Formula Nissan, Inc., an automobile sales and service dealership located in central Vermont.

During his tenure, McLane oversaw the parts and service departments, supervised other employees, and ordered, received, and paid for automotive parts needed in the dealership’s operations.

However, McLane defrauded the dealership by ordering certain vehicle parts, including vehicle suspension lift kits, and selling them for his own benefit. He advertised the lift kits for sale on Facebook at prices substantially discounted from their wholesale cost to the dealership.

As a result of McLane’s fraud, Formula Nissan and its insurance company suffered an out-of-pocket loss of at least $575,000. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

McLane is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

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