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Polk Car Dealer Accused Of Defrauding Customers

News Channel 8 by PETER MASA

Michael Randall Holley owns Michael Holley Chevrolet in Lakeland and Michael Holley Pontiac Buick GMC in Bartow.

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TBO.com,

Published: December 18, 2008

A car dealership owner is in the Polk County Jail today facing more than 60 charges in connection with an alleged scheme of accepting car trade-ins but not paying off the vehicle loans, according to the State Attorney's Office.

Michael Randall Holley, who owns Michael Holley Chevrolet in Lakeland and Michael Holley Pontiac Buick GMC in Bartow, was arrested today on 63 charges ranging from scheming to defraud and grand theft to unlawful subleasing of a motor vehicle.

Holley, 47, was arrested by Polk County deputies today.

Polk County State Attorney Jerry Hill says his office has been investigating Holley for several months after customers complained to authorities.

The operation was "run day to day" by Holley, Hill said. Investigators are trying to figure out what happened to an estimated $400,000.

For now, Barry Brown of Plant City has to continue his $530-per-month payment on a Lexus he traded in to Holley in addition to paying on the new Chevrolet Corvette he bought from Holley's dealership.

Holley's arrest isn't too much comfort to Brown who hopes to get his money back.

"He is where should be, but that doesn't give us any remedy," Brown said.

In the meantime, Brown's Lexus remains on the dealership lot.

Holley's attorney, Richard Mars, says his client expects to post his nearly half-million dollar bail today or Friday.

"It was never Holley's intent to defraud anybody," Mars said.

Hill says his office sees more of these kinds of operations that during tough economic times. He suggests people check with the Better Business Bureau and their friends and acquaintances.

The State Attorney's Office says Holley is the main focus of the investigation, but it will try and recover money for the victims, if possible. Hill said more charges could follow.

Mars said Holley hopes to keep clearing the liens as he's done since the beginning of the investigation.

"But it's hard to do business from jail," Mars said.

News Channel 8 reporter Katie Coronado contributed to this report.

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