Vermont Dealer Parts Manager Pleads Guilty to $575K Mail Fraud Scheme

Burlington, Vermont

Robert McLane, 36, of Webster, Vermont, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of mail fraud.

McLane, the former Parts Manager and Director of Parts and Service at Formula Nissan, Inc., admitted to defrauding his employer of $575,000 by ordering and selling vehicle parts to unsuspecting customers while posing as a legitimate dealer.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McLane used dealer management software to order parts from Nissan North America, but instead of selling them to customers through Formula Nissan, he sold them online via Facebook at discounted prices.

Over the course of the scheme, McLane sold over 200 lift kits to persons across the United States, using a personal PayPal account to receive payment and shipping them out using Formula Nissan’s Federal Express account.

McLane faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the gross loss caused by the fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for October 31, 2024.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and McLane is represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steve Barth. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said, ‘The defendant’s actions were a betrayal of the trust placed in him by his employer and the public. His guilty plea is a significant step towards holding him accountable for his crimes.’

McLane’s scheme has left Formula Nissan and its insurance company with a significant financial loss, and the victims of his scheme are still waiting for justice.