F&I and Showroom, August 2019

www fi magazine com 8 F I and Showroom August 2019 DEVELOPMENTS The owners of Daylight Motors of Beaumont Texas have pleaded guilty to bookmaking money laundering and tax evasion charges stemming from an investigation led by the U S Department of Justice the Department of Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service Larry Tillery his wife Judy Kay Tillery and their son Brian Tillery face sentences ranging from five to 10 years in prison for their roles in a sophisticated gambling enterprise that authorities say the family operated from 1985 to 2017 The Tillerys used Daylight Motors and its holding company Lamar Capital as a front to launder illicit proceeds from an illegal gambling enterprise according to a DOJ statement In addition to prison time the Tillerys have agreed to forfeit a total of more than 35 million in judgments cash properties watches jewelry and sports memorabilia The settlement follows an April 2017 raid of the dealership and the seizure of nine commercial and residential properties in Texas and Arizona a month later The familys liabilities were calculated in part based on federal tax guidelines Bookmakers are technically required to register as such with the IRS and pay a 2 gross wagering excise tax on a monthly basis whether or not gambling is permitted in their state The DOJs statement said the Tillerys accepted at least 52 million worth of wagers between 2011 and 2016 alone racking up a tax bill of 1040000 The Tillerys ignored state and federal gambling laws and profited tremendously from a criminal enterprise said U S Attorney Joseph D Brown We intend to collect every bit of the money judgment that will be issued against them and we expect Larry Tillerys prison sentence to send a message to those who profit from illegal bookmaking Feds Texas Dealership Fronted Gambling Enterprise FORD ENDS ALA DEALERS GUN GIVEAWAY In mid June Southern Alabamas Chatom Ford scored a viral hit with a video promising a free Bible American flag and 12 gauge shotgun with every purchase Two weeks later Ford Motor Co asked the dealership to end the promotion calling it inappropriate in light of a murdersuicide at a California Ford dealership General Sales Manager Koby Palmer told multiple media outlets This is just showing support for our local community Palmer told USA Today Anyone that doesnt 100 agree with what were portraying were not trying to force our beliefs on anybody We respect anybody that disagrees no matter how vehemently they do Palmer made clear there were no shotguns at the dealership In addition to their Bible or Torah or Quran and flag sold customers were offered a certificate they could take to one of several certified firearms dealers in Alabama or Mississippi The promotion was set to run through the end of July Ford spokesman T R Reid acknowledged the request came down from Fords Southeast regional office This is a local promotion It is not something Ford developed and the dealers are independent businesses Reid told the Detroit Free Press But if a dealership is altering the promotion in light of the tragedy that seems appropriate Palmer told USA Today the original post had garnered more than 250000 views and generated calls from car buyers in five states and Europe by the time he took it down I guess it went viral as the kids say Palmer said We live in a small town of 1200 people Its a very small rural area They lean on their religious beliefs their pride in America and they love to hunt YOUTUBE PHOTO BY CHATOM FORD VIA FACEBOOK Texas dealer Larry Tillery will spend up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal gambling money laundering and tax evasion charges Chatom Ala Ford has ended a promotional campaign promising free shotguns to sold customers following a cease and desist from the factory