SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Town of San Francisco is taking motion in opposition to a towing firm they are saying has a historical past of illegally towing automobiles.
Virtually a yr because the San Francisco City Attorney’s office began proceedings in opposition to “Auto Towing” citing this firm violated a number of state and native legal guidelines by illegally towing automobiles from non-public property. Now, the town is taking a step additional.
“We supplied sufficient proof such that Auto Towing could possibly be completely barred from doing enterprise with the town for the subsequent 5 years,” stated San Francisco Metropolis Legal professional, David Chiu.
Chiu stated his workplace has a listing of unlawful techniques utilized by Auto Towing. In a press release Chiu added, “This firm deliberately misled and scammed folks out of a whole lot of {dollars} by illegally towing vehicles. Our Metropolis has no real interest in contracting with exploitative companies engaged in unlawful conduct.”
Throughout their investigation, the town lawyer’s workplace discovered that they house owners of Auto Towing are additionally the house owners of two different towing corporations.
One among them is known as “Specialty Towing.” In April, we reported on a tow truck with the identify “Specialty Towing” that attempted to hook a car ready at a crimson mild.
“There was a towing truck that had the names “Specialty Towing” that was engaged in what gave the impression to be prison exercise by trying to take a automobile with people in it. That investigation I do know is ongoing, however it would not look nice for these affiliated corporations both,” stated Chiu.
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ABC7 went to Auto Towing in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood. Their lot had two vehicles inside, however nobody inside.
We known as the quantity on the signal exterior their enterprise.
A basic operator stated Auto Towing hasn’t paid for the operator service in months.
Shamann Walton, supervisor for this district, is conscious of this firm.
“They’d take vehicles from the deal with of report to a different web site and folks must take longer to have the ability to find their car which within the towing world it will increase the price so that you can get your automobile again. So, they made it troublesome and, in some circumstances, inconceivable for folks to retrieve their vehicles,” stated Walton.
Supervisor Walton stated there are a number of towing corporations in San Francisco recognized to carry out unlawful techniques.
“I am glad the town lawyer has ended this apply for one towing firm and hopefully it resonates with the others,” stated Walton.
As we dug deeper, Metropolis Legal professional Chiu confirmed the house owners of Auto Towing are dealing with greater than a ban from the town.
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In a separate case, the house owners of Auto Towing had been charged with welfare fraud.
In a press release, the San Francisco district lawyer’s workplace stated:
“Fuentes and Badillo had been every charged in connection to welfare fraud. They had been arraigned in February of this yr and pleaded not responsible to all costs. Their subsequent court docket date is September 11, 2024, for a prehearing convention.
Fuentes is charged with 12 felony counts in connection to welfare fraud. Charged with one depend of misappropriation of public funds, two counts of acquiring assist by misrepresentation, one depend of submitting a false declaration of eligibility, two counts of grand theft and 6 counts of perjury beneath oath.
Badillo is charged with eight felony counts together with one depend of acquiring assist by misrepresentation, one depend of submitting a false declaration of eligibility one depend of grand theft and 4 counts of perjury beneath oath.”
Relating to the 2 different towing corporations owned by the house owners of Auto Towing, metropolis lawyer Chiu stated they’re nonetheless suspended from doing companies with the town.
“They’ve been suspended indefinitely whereas a prison continuing in opposition to the house owners of their firm are continuing,” stated Chiu.
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