Used car dealer indicted for mistreating servicemember with car loan
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. A north Alabama car dealer was indicted on federal charges of refusing to lower the interest rate in a vehicle deal with a National Guard member who was sent to war.
Carl Ralph Nuss, 74, of Cullman was indicted on two counts of violating a federal law that mandates breaks for service members who are called to active duty, federal prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.
Nuss, who owns North Alabama Wholesale Autos, denied doing anything wrong and claimed the guardsmans family was trying to get out of paying for a vehicle.
Authorities said a 22-year-old service member bought a Ford Sport-Trac from Nuss in 2011 and was later called to active duty in Afghanistan. The guardsman requested a reduction in his 25 percent annual interest charge to 6 percent, as required by the law, but Nuss refused, said the statement from prosecutors.
Prosecutors said the dealer then hired two men who repossessed the $9,700 vehicle.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/03/ap-car-dealer-charged-with-mistreating-guardsman-032913/
According to the FBI, the maximum penalty if convicted is $200,000 fine and 2 years in prison.