NHTSA/Odometer Fraud (CLOSED)
Most Recent Update 10/22/03 (See end of document)
Update 1/03:
United States v. McConnell, et al., Criminal No. 02-CR-182-ALL (ED
TX)
Cecil McConnell, Jeffrey McConnell, Coby McConnell, Pamela Christine McConnell,
and Johnna Wing McConnell recently pled guilty in federal district court
in Beaumont, Texas, to an Information that charged Cecil, Jeffrey, and Coby
McConnell with participating in a conspiracy to commit odometer fraud and
related offenses. The Information further charged Pamela Christine McConnell
and Johnna Wing McConnell with misprision of a felony (i.e., concealing
the crime and not reporting the crime to the authorities). With the exception
of Coby McConnell, none of the other family members are in custody.
No sentencing date has yet been scheduled for the McConnell family members.
We will be updating this website with additional information relating to
sentencing when the Court sets a date.
As part of the defendants' plea agreements, they have agreed to make restitution
to the victims of his offense. Please note, however, that no restitution
order has yet been entered by the court, and it is unclear whether the defendants
have the financial resources to pay restitution, even if it is ordered.
The government is in the process of attempting to locate and advise the
owners of the vehicles of their legal rights and obligations. The government
is mailing letters to all identifiable victims of the offenses committed
by the McConnells to inform them of the status of this prosecution and to
offer them the opportunity to notify the United States Probation Office
of their losses. Those letters include the government's
notification letter and a consumer
declaration form. On-line versions of these documents may be accessed
by clicking on the words above. The consumer declaration should be filled
out and returned to the following address no later than January 27, 2003:
Ms. Susan Johnson
Victim-Witness Coordinator
United States Attorney's Office
350 Magnolia Ave. Suite 150
Beaumont, TX 77701-2237
(409) 839-2538
(409) 839-2550 (fax)
Please fill out this form to the best of your ability. Any additional expenses
incurred as a result of owning the vehicle (for example, repairs) should
also be listed. You also may include an attachment if you have additional
information to submit to the probation officer. Make sure to include your
name, the Vehicle Identification Number ("V.I.N."), and signature on any
attachment. If you have any questions, please contact the case agent who
investigated this case, Special Agent Bob Eppes, at (816) 329-3911.
Update 6/03:
No change in status.
Update 10/22/03:
On October 22, 2003, the court imposed sentences on the defendants. Several
consumer victims of the offenses were present in the courtroom, and one
of them made a statement to the court.
The court imposed the following sentences:
Cecil McConnell was sentenced to 48 months in prison, and ordered to pay
restitution in the amount of $367,232. He was also ordered to serve three
years of supervised release after his prison term. If he commits any crimes
while on supervised release, he will be ordered to return to prison for
the three year term of supervised release. No fine was imposed. The defendant
cannot work in the car industry during the term of supervised release. He
was held accountable for the rollback of the odometers on 185 motor vehicles.
Jeffrey McConnell was sentenced to 45 months in prison, and ordered to
pay restitution in the amount of $367,232. He was also ordered to serve
three years of supervised release after his prison term. If he commits any
crimes while on supervised release, he will be ordered to return to prison
for the three year term of supervised release. No fine was imposed. The
defendant cannot work in the car industry during the term of supervised
release. He was held accountable for the rollback of the odometers on 213
motor vehicles.
Coby McConnell was sentenced to 51 months in prison, and ordered to pay
restitution in the amount of $367,232. He was also ordered to serve three
years of supervised release after his prison term. If he commits any crimes
while on supervised release, he will be ordered to return to prison for
the three year term of supervised release. No fine was imposed. The defendant
cannot work in the car industry during the term of supervised release. He
was held accountable for the rollback of the odometers on 194 motor vehicles.
Pamela Christine McConnell and Johnna Wing McConnell, who had pled guilty
to misprision of a felony (i.e., concealing a crime and not reporting
the crime to the authorities), were each sentenced to 5 years of probation.
