DA: Massive fraud uncovered at two Lawrence car dealerships

BY ANN GIVENS | ann.givens@newsday.com A murder investigation has led Nassau prosecutors to uncover a massive fraud scheme that was being run out of two Five Towns area car dealerships, District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced this morning at a news conference. Prosecutors have arrested 11 people who they say were running scams out of Universal Auto World and Victory Toyota, both on Burnside Avenue in Lawrence, Rice said. Some were using stolen identities to purchase luxury vehicles for third parties who wanted to keep their names "off the books," Rice said. Others were using "straw" buyers -- or people who were knowingly allowing their identities to be misused -- to purchase vehicles for third parties, she said. Rice said she does not know why the third parties wanted to remain under the radar. "I can think of a lot of... [read full story]