A former car dealership sales associate, William Ray Turner, 31, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
According to the plea agreement, Turner used identification belonging to another individual to submit a false loan application to Ally Bank for the purchase of a 2019 KIA Sorento in the approximate amount of $32,917 from Patriot Chevrolet on September 14, 2020.
Turner stated that he received a commission for the purported sale of the vehicle and after the sale was approved, he caused the KIA Sorento to be transferred to an acquaintance who subsequently made payments to Turner via CashApp for the vehicle.
Turner admitted that he acted with the intent to defraud the dealership. He was employed at Patriot Chevrolet in Bartlesville from March 2019 to October 2021, where he sold cars, assisted customers in obtaining financing for the purchase of vehicles, and received commission payments for his sales.
The U.S. Secret Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and Bartlesville Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Cella and Melody Noble Nelson are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson stated, “William Turner exploited his position when he stole an identity and used it to submit a false loan application for the purchase of a vehicle. He then illegally profited from the crime by receiving a commission and selling the SUV to a personal acquaintance. This U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to fully prosecuting white collar criminals, like Turner, who defraud employers and the banking system.”
The case is ongoing, and Turner awaits sentencing. The scheme allegedly caused over $1 million in losses.
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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