Roslyn salesman convicted of $350,000 theft

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Roslyn salesman convicted of $350,000 theft

A used car salesman who had worked for a dealership in Roslyn was sentenced to up to four years in prison on Monday for stealing over $350,000 in car payments from customers, according to Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Freeport resident Michael McGriff, 43, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of theft before a Nassau Supreme Court judge on July 7, and was recently sentenced for the crimes, according to a release from Singas’ office.

McGriff made fraudulent contracts with customers at Port Motors Lincoln Mercury in Roslyn and Lexus of Rockville Centre to charge them higher monthly payments than were agreed to, and forged loans under customers’ names without their authorization, the release said.

“Buying a car can be a stressful experience, and this defendant took advantage of his customers’ trust when he stole more than $350,000 from car buyers and dealerships,” Singas said. “I’m grateful to the [Nassau County Police Department] and our prosecutors for bringing this case to ensure that this scam artist is out of business and behind bars.”

Some of his victims had their cars repossessed because they refused to make payments for the extra loans he took out for them, the release said.

In some cases, he collected cash from customers’ down payments, but never produced a car, the release said. 

Under the alias of Michael Glenn, McGriff took $12,900 from a customer to buy a car at auction, but never acquired the car.

Customers defrauded by McGriff complained to the dealerships about his actions, and he was then reported to the police, the release said.

Judge Jerald Carter oversaw McGriff’s sentencing, and ordered him to repay victims a total of $365,546. 

His attorney Lloyd J. Nadel said he doesn’t have the money to make the payments, and for now will have a civil judgement documented against him until the restitution is paid.

The sentence ordered McGriff to a minimum of 16 months and a maximum of four years behind bars.

“They negotiated for a sentence with the judge, and he said he wanted to put this whole incident behind him,” Nadel said. “He acknowledged that he made mistakes, and he’s ready to move on with his life.”

His sentence includes time served since his arrest, which currently meets the minimum 16 months, Nadel said. 

Once McGriff is processed from county to state prison, he will have a parole hearing set, he said.

McGriff pleadws guilty to second-degree grand larceny, seven counts of third-degree grand larceny, first-degree identity theft, and first-degree scheme to defraud, the release said.

Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Sotirhos and April Montgomery prosecuted the case. 

Detective Jeffrey Marshall from Nassau County Police conducted the investigation and arrested McGriff, the release said.

by Chris Adams

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