Two Tennessee men, John Alan Nebel, 39, of Gallatin, and Joshua David Nichols, 52, of Nashville, have been charged with conspiring to defraud the Ford Motor Company. The charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee. The alleged scheme involved the sale of old fuel injectors in boxes falsely labeled with Ford markings to make them appear eligible for Ford’s rebate program.
According to court documents, Nebel was a founder and co-owner of Sumner Wholesale Auto Group LLC, which operated under the name SWAG Performance & Off-Road LLC in Hendersonville, Tennessee, during the time of the conspiracy. The business has since relocated to Cotton Town, Tennessee. Nichols was an independent contractor working for SWAG.
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The rebate program offered by Ford allowed customers who purchased a genuine Ford replacement fuel injector, costing approximately $300, to return their old fuel injector, referred to as a “core,” and receive a $180 rebate from Ford. However, Nebel, Nichols, and their co-conspirators allegedly purchased old, used cores for $35 to $45. They then packaged these cores with fake labels, decals, and logos to make them appear as though they were associated with new replacement parts. These were sold to SWAG customers for $95 to $170 each, with the understanding that SWAG customers would submit rebate claims to Ford for the full $180 rebate.
If found guilty, both Nebel and Nichols face potential sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 each. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint leading the prosecution.
It is important to note that an indictment or information is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: Read Original Release
Man Arrested for Counterfeit Fentanyl Pills
An 18-year-old man named Ivan Corrales was arrested at a Greyhound terminal in Nashville for carrying thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills. The pills, weighing over five pounds, were discovered by detectives from the Specialized Investigations Division. Corrales, who was instructed to transport the pills from El Paso to Nashville, has been charged with felony possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, with his bond set at $75,000. His residence is identified as Alma, Arkansas.