Kansas Car Dealer Indicted on Multiple Counts for Odometer Fraud

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By Staff Writer | iSkyCreations - News & Media (ISC News & Media)
Published March 20th, 2024

WICHITA, KAN. – In a striking crackdown on automotive fraud, a federal grand jury in Wichita has indicted a local car dealer on 27 counts of criminal misconduct, including odometer tampering, mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Adam Newbrey, 31, of Derby, is at the center of this significant legal action, facing serious allegations over his operations at three used car dealerships in Wichita: Ideal Motors, Midwest Wholesale, and Prestige Motors.

Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2021, Newbrey engaged in a scheme to purchase used vehicles within Kansas and Oklahoma, only to alter their odometers and falsify documentation to reflect lower mileage. The indictment accuses Newbrey of then obtaining new titles from the Kansas Department of Revenue, which bore the fraudulent odometer readings. This deceitful practice was allegedly used to mislead customers about the true mileage of vehicles, ultimately defrauding them.

The specific charges against Newbrey include one count of conspiracy to commit odometer fraud, nine counts of odometer tampering, seven counts of mail fraud, nine counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of wire fraud. These charges outline a broad and deceptive scheme to manipulate vehicle sales through fraudulent representations of vehicle conditions.

Newbrey made his initial appearance in court on March 15, 2024, where he faced the charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The case has drawn attention not only for its impact on consumers but also for the potential safety risks associated with unknowingly purchasing higher-mileage vehicles.

The investigation into Newbrey's alleged activities is being conducted by the Kansas Department of Revenue – Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Barnett is leading the prosecution, signaling a rigorous legal battle ahead.

It is important to remember that an indictment is merely an allegation, and like all defendants in the U.S. legal system, Newbrey is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

For Immediate Release: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Kansas

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