Man Arrested On Charges Of Fraud In Harrison And Hot Springs, Arkansas

Law Enforcement Seeking Assistance From Potential Victims

Harrison, AR - 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, appeared in United States Magistrate Court in Springfield, Missouri for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on a complaint for charges of three counts of Mail Fraud, one count of Wire Fraud, and two counts of Money Laundering. The charges stem from a scheme to defraud involving classic and vintage cars. Blount previously lived in Harrison and Hot Springs, Arkansas and is formerly from Louisiana.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “As alleged, this case involves a fraudulent scheme designed for personal gain. In a case such as this where multiple aliases are used in multiple areas, it is difficult to identify all of the victims. For that reason, we are reaching out to try to identify these victims so that justice can be done for all that may have been affected, and ask that you contact Law Enforcement at the phone number below with any pertinent information. Our office remains dedicated to pursuing fraud cases and holding accountable those who swindle honest and vulnerable people out of their hard-earned money by their deceitful schemes.”

According to the complaint, Blount operated two car lots, Corvettes and Classics in Harrison, Arkansas and Al’s Hot Rod’s in Kirbyville, Missouri. Blount would tell victims he would sell their classic and vintage vehicles on consignment, but he would frequently sell a car and not pay the owner, or he would accept payment from a buyer and then not deliver the vehicle or the title to the buyer. Please contact Special Agent Tim Arsenault at 479-571-9763 if you have any information in this case.

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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