Husband And Wife Arraigned On Charges Of Fraud And Money Laundering Related To Classic Car Scheme

Law Enforcement Seeking Assistance From Potential Victims

Fort Smith, Arkansas - Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Travis Allen Blount, Jr., aka Travis Allen, or Allen Blount, age 56, of Kirbyville, Missouri and his wife Sandra J. Blount, age 47, of Kirbyville, Missouri, each appeared separately this week in United States District Court for arraignment on charges related to a scheme to defraud involving classic and vintage cars. The Honorable Mark E. Ford presided over both hearings; each defendant pleaded not-guilty to all charges. Travis Blount previously lived in Harrison and Hot Springs, Arkansas. Prior to moving to Arkansas, Blount lived in Louisiana. The defendants are scheduled for trial on April 6, 2015 before United States District Judge P.K. Holmes III.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “We are committed to identifying and prosecuting all types of fraudulent schemes that prey on innocent people. We ask for the public’s help with identifying all of the victims in this case, to ensure that justice is pursued for all fraudulent conduct involved. Potential victims should contact Law Enforcement at the telephone number below with any relevant information.”

As alleged in the complaint, the Blounts operated two car lots, “Corvettes and Classics” in Harrison, Arkansas and “Al’s Hot Rods” in Kirbyville, Missouri. The Blounts made agreements with victims to sell classic and vintage vehicles on consignment. Instead of compensating victims, the Blounts frequently sold cars without paying the owners and accepted payments from buyers without delivering the vehicle or title. Please contact Special Agent Tim Arsenault at 479-571-9763 if you have any information in this case.

A Federal Grand Jury charged Travis A. Blount, Jr. with the following: one count of Conspiracy to Defraud, three counts of Mail Fraud, four counts of Wire Fraud, two counts of Interstate Transportation of Goods to Conceal a Scheme to Defraud, and four counts of Money Laundering. Sandra J. Blount was charged with the following offenses: one count of Conspiracy to Defraud, one count of Aiding and Abetting Mail Fraud, one count of Aiding and Abetting Wire Fraud, one count of Aiding and Abetting Interstate Transportation of Goods to Conceal a Scheme to Defraud, and one count of Aiding and Abetting Money Laundering.

This case is being investigated by the Financial Crimes Task Force in the Western District of Arkansas, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Fayetteville Police Department, and the Harrison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyra Jenner is prosecuting the case for the United States.

The charges in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov