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A Florida car dealer is awaiting sentencing after he pleaded guilty to rolling back the odometers on at least three vehicles by thousands of miles.

Drew Mitchell Schreiber, owner of Central Florida Automotive Group, in Winter Garden, admitted that he purchased high-mileage, used vehicles at wholesale auctions then tampered with the odometer readings, according to federal prosecutors and court documents.

He then sold the vehicles to used-car dealers around the country. Because many of the vehicles were more than 10 years old, Schreiber was able to obtain “exempt” titles that did not reveal the actual mileage, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.

Altogether, Schreiber was charged with tampering with more than 140 vehicles – fudging the odometer reading on some by as much as 428,000 miles. His profit came to more than $600,000, the plea agreement shows.

“Just because a motor vehicle may be exempt from mileage recording on a title does not give a dealer the right to roll back odometers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Brian Boynton.

One vehicle, a 2002 Ford Thunderbird, had its mileage changed from 154,459 miles to 38,540, the felony information filing shows. Another, a 2006 Porsche Cayman, was changed from 150,789 miles to 34,643.

The department and federal court records did not explain how the fraud came to light or how Schreiber was able to change digital, electronic odometer readings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation investigated the case.

A sentencing date has been set for March 13, 2025 in federal court in Orlando. He faces a maximum of nine years in prison and a fine of $750,000. Schreiber has agreed to pay restitution to victims of the crime.

Florida Secretary of State records show the man has been involved in at least three other businesses, including Southeastern Credit Union Solutions.

Topics Florida