What's up with Gary Barbera's Autoland?

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by The StraightShooter

Kinda feel bad for him as the only thing worse than dealing with Chrysler could quite possibly be dealing with the IRS.

I feel the same way. I don't know him but I certainly don't wish him any ill-will. There were a lot of good dealers who got caught up in the CF to GMAC quagmire so I don't hold that against him.

That said, I wouldn't want to be fighting with a U.S. Attorney who likes to hold press conferences. It's funny how stories alleging tax fraud always seem to fill the headlines each year around April 15th.

[ohiobuckeyes]

Originally Posted by XDCX

Great information - it's just about 17 hours too late.

That's what The StraightShooter and I were talking about in the last two posts and why I made the reference to Jim Press. (Who is also on the IRS Radar Screen for unpaid taxes)

Thats me Mr. Late to the PARTY. I did notice that with Your post about Jim Press did not put two and two together.

Does Press also have a FORECLOSER or Two with a Toyota Credit Union as well?

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by ohiobuckeyes

Thats me Mr. Late to the PARTY. I did notice that with Your post about Jim Press did not put two and two together.

Does Press also have a FORECLOSER or Two with a Toyota Credit Union as well?

No worries, I was just giving you a hard time about missing the original post.

Concerning Press; his situation with the IRS and his credit union loan default have mostly dropped off the radar screen. The most recent report I've seen dates back to October of last year when it was reported he owed the IRS almost $1 Million and his credit union was suing him for defaulting on a $609K loan.

Press was quoted a few times when the Toyota recall issue was red-hot with the media but I never read anything regarding his situation with the IRS or his credit union.

[Slo]

Sounds like Barbera is just trying to get a cabinet appointment with the current administration, or at least to have an opportunity to work under Timothy Geithner...

[XDCX]

News reports indicate Gary Barbera has plead guilty to tax fraud charges that could lead to a jail sentence between 12 - 18 months. Here's a link to the full report - click here

Barbera admitted he instructed Chrysler Financial to make his quarterly "Dealer Reward" checks made payable to himself and never reported the income on his dealership or personal tax filings. The charges relate to his 2003 and 2004 tax filing and resulted in cheating the IRS out of $77,675 in taxes.

I'm amazed that it took this long for him to get caught and that he'd be so brazen to think he could get away with this scheme.

Even more surprising, why would a dealer like Barbera risk jail time over what is such an insignificant amount of money to him?

[XDCX]

News reports indicate Gary Barbera was sentenced yesterday to a three year probation and will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device. For the full report - click here

The report referenced his Chryslerland Dealership - is it still operational? Did he find a new flooring source?

[CL Pgh]

Originally Posted by XDCX

... is it still operational? Did he find a new flooring source?

GARY BARBERA'S AUTOLAND USA (MABC) / 1 nvdr last month / 204 YTD.

[dealer3100]

5 NEW VEHICLES IN STOCK

http://www.garybarberasautoland.com/...ventoryListing

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CL Pgh

GARY BARBERA'S AUTOLAND USA (MABC) / 1 nvdr last month / 204 YTD.

Originally Posted by dealer3100

5 NEW VEHICLES IN STOCK

http://www.garybarberasautoland.com/...ventoryListing

Sure doesn't sound like he's found a new flooring source. I wonder if he got the same letter from Chrysler that our member scooter did?

[dodgequality]

Auto dealer Gary Barbera was sentenced Friday to three-year’s probation, which includes one year of home confinement, for filing false tax returns, federal prosecutors in Philadelphia said.

Barbera, 45, of Gladwyne, Pa., operates Gary Barbera’s Chrysler Group at 7810 Roosevelt Blvd. in Northeast Philadelphia. He pleaded guilty on May 6 to filing false returns for the car dealership bearing his name for the tax years 2003 and 2004.

In addition to the probationary and home confinement term, U.S. District Court Judge Jan E. DuBois ordered Barbera to pay $119,744.55 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and to pay a $30,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the IRS criminal investigation division and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Crawley.



Read more: Car dealer Gary Barbera sentenced | Philadelphia Business Journal

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CL Pgh

Not familiar with this dealer at all… but just now noticed his name in the MABC sales volume chart. As of today he shows 21 nvdr’s for the month… BUT, only 25 YTD. ??? Same line shows total sales last year as well as CMLY so it’s not a new dealer or dealer code. Very strange!

Originally Posted by CL Pgh

GARY BARBERA'S AUTOLAND USA (MABC) / 1 nvdr last month / 204 YTD.

I didn't notice it until I re-read this thread but it seems strange that Barbera's store only had 25 sales YTD back in April and now he has 204 sales YTD even though he only had one NVDR last month.

I wonder if he had a few good months over the summer or if it was just a one month spike?

[XDCX]

It appears Gary Barbera and his Chryslerland dealership are back in the news. Here's a link to the news report - click here

When I first read the report I thought it was a re-print from last year but when I read further I noticed the report made reference to Barbera's probation - something that's relatively recent.

It's hard to say what's happening, but it's rarely a good thing when the State Police start hauling off documents and the power company shuts off the electricity.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by dealer3100

5 NEW VEHICLES IN STOCK

http://www.garybarberasautoland.com/...ventoryListing

I just checked your link - now the dealership is down to three new vehicles in inventory and 12 used vehicles.

It appears Babera's store has been operating for over a year without a flooring source and yet it remains an active dealer code on Chrysler's website.

I wonder why Chrysler has allowed some dealers without a flooring source to continue while they've pushed others to self-terminate?

[Jeff Duvall]

Originally Posted by XDCX

I wonder why Chrysler has allowed some dealers without a flooring source to continue while they've pushed others to self-terminate?

In many cases it was because of the large loans owed to Chrysler Financial (cerberus). Don't forget Cerberus (chrysler financial) was in charge when the dealer cuts were made. Now it is very difficult to terminate at will because of state franchise laws.
.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by Jeff Duvall

In many cases it was because of the large loans owed to Chrysler Financial (cerberus). Don't forget Cerberus (chrysler financial) was in charge when the dealer cuts were made. Now it is very difficult to terminate at will because of state franchise laws.
.

Excellent comment - that makes a lot of sense.

The difference in value between an open dealership and a closed one is huge - especially when you factor in today's commercial real estate market. It would certainly be in Chrysler Financial's best interest to keep Barbera's store open until he finds a flooring source or a buyer.