Grayslake used-car dealer accused in scams
Consumers and lending institutions were victims of a Grayslake man's scams connected to his used-car operation, authorities said Friday.
Police said Donald R. Kramer, 44, of 572 Fairfax Lane, committed the crimes at his Grayslake Motorsport Inc. Authorities said the shop is out of business.
Grayslake police Operations Cmdr. Matt McCutcheon said Kramer is charged with two counts of financial institution fraud, four counts of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, and theft under $10,000.
McCutcheon said the schemes occurred from June through August at the business when it operated on Route 83. Kramer, who is free on bond, declined to comment Friday.
In one case, police said, Community Trust Credit Union issued a $15,633 check to Grayslake Motorsport for a truck received by the business. Kramer was supposed to forward the money to Capital One Bank in return for the vehicle title. But the $15,633 never made it to Capital One, McCutcheon said, and that constituted theft of the truck.
Police said Kramer cashed a $48,369 check from AMCORE Bank in another transaction for a 2006 Lexus. However, authorities said, the vehicle never was in Grayslake Motorsport's possession to sell, and Kramer didn't send the title to AMCORE to secure the loan, as required.
AMCORE also sent $45,941 to Grayslake Motorsport for the sale of a 2007 Lincoln Navigator, police said. Kramer is accused of cashing the check and not sending the title to AMCORE to secure the loan on the vehicle.
Police said there were other cases, including a customer who paid $1,650 for an extended warranty he never received. There may be at least 10 automobile buyers who were caught up in Grayslake Motorsport's fraud, McCutcheon said.
"They're making payments on cars they don't actually own," he said of the customers.
McCutcheon said two other cases remain under investigation, and there may be others that have yet to be reported to police.
Kramer's attorney, Peter Kalagis of Park Ridge, couldn't be reached for comment.