Monday, July 15, 2024

ASAP Towing owner says JSO investigation into possible organized fraud is retaliation for ongoing legal dispute. (Anne Maxwell, News4JAX)

From News4JAX: 


ASAP Towing owner says JSO investigation into possible organized fraud is retaliation for ongoing legal dispute

Warrant alleges ASAP Towing’s Westside location is being used to conceal evidence related to theft and organized fraud

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) believes people at an embattled Jacksonville towing company may be concealing evidence in violation of Florida theft and fraud statutes.

The JSO investigation appears to be following the money made from unclaimed cars sold by ASAP Towing, which was served with a search warrant by officers on Thursday. When a sale yields more money than it costs to impound the vehicle, those funds are supposed to be filed with the Clerk of Court.

The warrant, provided to the I-TEAM by ASAP Towing, shows JSO sought documents pertaining to the sale of vehicles, bank statements for all locations, or “any instrumentalities possessed or used in connection with the illegal activity.”

RELATED: Tow company accused of ‘preying’ on residents of St. Johns County neighborhood after cars towed from driveways

The company’s owner told News4JAX on Friday that he’s done nothing wrong.

Vince Serrano, President and CEO of ASAP Towing and Storage, said all four company locations were served on Friday.

He also said he’s cooperating and alleged the Sheriff’s Office is retaliating against him due to a legal dispute.

“I’ve done nothing but be a good steward for the people of Jacksonville. And when we impounded cars, I do my best fiduciary responsibility to get them all their monies that are due,” Serrano said.

After News4JAX posted a story Thursday about the warrant being served, dozens of people commented and claimed the company’s business practices are shady, and said things like they only take cash on the weekends.

“Well, you know what? I looked at all those comments, every single one. And the one thing that they all have in common: they were towed,” Serrano said.

ASAP Towing
ASAP Towing (WJXT)

Last year, JSO removed ASAP Towing from its rotation of tow companies after finding it removed a dozen cars from apartment complexes without the complex managers present, as required.

n a letter to the towing company, JSO wrote that it found an ASAP Towing employee also had an outside company that was being used to sign off on tows from apartment complexes, including a case where the property manager hadn’t approved removing the vehicles.

ASAP filed a lawsuit claiming that a property manager can give permission remotely.

MORE: Jacksonville company accused of towing, auctioning cars of deployed soldiers, sailors paid $100K settlement

Serrano said ASAP handed over documents related to the sale of 46 vehicles on Thursday, financial records from 2020 to the present and computer data images.

“Basically, all of our entire business,” he said.

Serrano said his business started with just one truck and it now has over 30. He declined to share how much profit ASAP Towing makes, but said when it comes to revenue, it’s “$10 million company.”

Serrano told the I-TEAM he lives in a $3 million house and thinks JSO doesn’t believe he deserves it.

“You know, a lot of people don’t want to see people do well. It’s an unfortunate thing in America. But I’ve worked really hard, honest day’s work for my entire life,” he said.

The warrant alleges ASAP’s Westside location is being used to conceal evidence related to theft and organized fraud worth more than $50,000.

Serrano is not facing charges right now and JSO said it’s an active investigation.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anne Maxwell headshot

I-TEAM and general assignment reporter

Conversation

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All Comments

    1. Comment by Lauren de Ford.

      My grandmother was married to the father of the owners. That whole family is awful. Nice house, though, sure.

      • Comment by D D.

        Remember a story, most likely here, of him bragging about how successful he and believe his wife have been in this business. Very arro-gant. Several years ago. 

        • Comment by Stephen prevatt.

          If you're innocent and you can prove it I would sue the pants off of sheriff's office and local television stations for defamation of character and slander ànd other violations 

          • Comment by Rob D'Chambre.

            Once a thi ef, always a thi ef.

            • Comment by Yah duh da.

              Move it yourself. There’s no law against it yet.

              • Comment by Blonde Bomb.

                Speaking to this station just sealed the deal.

                • Comment by Al.

                  This towing company has done dirty deals with people broken down. This is not revenge. Hopefully they get shutdown, and a reliable less expensive towing company is created.

                  • Comment by Food4thought.

                    Great. Be prepared to wait an extra hour in traffic for every accident now while waiting for the wrecked cars to be cleared. 

                    • Reply by factsmatternow.

                      Right, because these towing companies are so efficient at cleaning up debris and removing wrecked cars....lol

                    • Reply by Rob D'Chambre.

                      No difference.other companies will take over the business

                  • Comment by Doctor Wizard.

                    The fact that they only take (untraceable) cash shows they are up to no good.

                    • Comment by Youdontownme.

                      Are there two “divisions” to ASAP? I have always used them to tow my car when needed and never had a problem with them. 

                      • Comment by Will.

                        It’s not gonna be a $10 million dollar company for much longer, better look into downsizing from that $3 million dollar home from all those ill-gotten gains. 

                        • Comment by LONEWOLFF.

                          T.........h..............i.............e....................v...................e...............s 

                          • Reply by Blonde Bomb.

                            Brilliant! And I agree.

                          • Reply by Melsnews.

                            C.....l....e......v.....e.....r work-around! And ASAP always at the bottom of my list. 

                        • Comment by Don'tTreadonMe66.

                          Predator towing big in MD too...gonna get someone arrested...

                          • Comment by Suzyqueue.

                            Content deactivated , my experience doesn’t matter 

                            • Reply by Jax Lifer.

                              Must have used negative words. They seen to automatically deactivate the posts.

                            • Reply by john marshall.

                              You're not allowed to use adjectives to describe how you feel about an issue because you may upset somebody with the opposite opinion...

                          • Comment by joeybusta@yahoo.com.

                            Typical tow bill from ASAP: Tow $100.00

                            Hook up fee: $150.00

                            Labor: $200.00

                            After hours fee$100.00

                            Mileage: $50.00

                            Gate fee$89.00

                            Admin fee: $150.00

                            Fuel surcharge fee: $75.00

                            2nd tow truck needed at scene: $200.00

                            Clean up fee: $40.00

                            Car cover/wrap protector: $50.00

                            Fee for Ins to inspect vehicle: $59.00

                            If you think this is a joke you are sorely wrong. This is no joke. I see these bogus charges every day from ASAP and multiple other tow companies. 

                            • Reply by Blonde Bomb.

                              Highway robbery... literally!

                            • Reply by Yah duh da.

                              It’s just a easy way that they can take one’s valuable asset hostage, knowing that they can charge anything they want because it belongs to someone else.

                          • Comment by JaxS0nVille.

                            They broke into my father-in-law's semi truck to move it so they could try and tow it. He was in town passing through and parked near Walmart because the truck stop was full. Got an alert his truck was moving. After getting an hour of sleep after a 16 hour shift, I drove him to his semi just in time. The tow drivers pretended like we were physically threatening them to cause a scene so they could claim self defense. I called the police. When the police got there, the semi was eventually unhooked from the tow truck. They still tried scamming us out of money for a "unhooking fee" . They damaged the front of the semi when unhooking. This company is corrupt. 

                            • Reply by factsmatternow.

                              Sue them

                          • Comment by Clay.

                            "Honest days work".....that is hilarious, and so far from the truth

                            • Comment by Mr. Bimmler.

                              Dude's gonna be on the hook for some coin.

                              • Comment by Kelly.

                                They constantly stalk my condo complex in southside. Towed my daughter's car and had to threaten to call the police to get it back and they would only take cash!

                                • Reply by Food4thought.

                                  Try not parking in Disabled Parking spots and Fire Lanes. It works wonders. 

                                • Reply by factsmatternow.

                                  Report them to the IRS

                              • Comment by Jax’s fan.

                                Illegal towing Is there company motto 

                                • Comment by Tango.

                                  The community would benefit from this company closing down for good 

                                  • Comment by Godowntowntogetmugged.

                                    Maybe all the service members cars yall towed while they were over seas?

                                    • Comment by facts matter.

                                      Predator towing

                                      • Reply by Clay.

                                        BEST COMMENT

                                    • Comment by T. White.

                                      I got arrested in 2007, they towed my car which is cool but they took my portable PlayStation out the car then in 2017 my truck got stuck in the dirt on 103rd no more then 10mins from them and they charged me $450 just for a pull. This they karma,I hope they go bankrupt and in debt! 

                                      • Comment by cummingsdad.

                                        I've watched asap tow 100s of cars illegally. Seen people park cars, walk inside and asap hooks up to the car. About a month ago they towed a delivery drivers car while he was helping a handicapped lady take her groceries inside her house. They are cro oked. 

                                        • Reply by justme.

                                          You’ve seen them tow hundreds of vehicles? You must be in an area where people ignore the no parking signs and park there anyway, so the owner or manager arranges for the tow company to remove the vehicles. Is it illegal for them to be towed immediately? Should they be permitted to park there for a period of time even though the sign reads no parking, vehicle will be towed?

                                        • Reply by PJaRoma.

                                          Justme doesn’t work for ASAP, just a concerned citizen playing devils advocate

                                      • Comment by Rob D'Chambre.

                                        Once a thi ef always a thi ef

                                        • Comment by Ubuibme.

                                          Tow company running a grift! That’s never happened before…

                                          • Comment by Inigo Montoya.

                                            I've never been towed by asap, but had no problem posting their prior federal issues for their shady business behavior, especially on those deployed troops they did dirty.

                                            • Comment by tom.

                                              Sounds like this man may be a Byden voter. I could be wrong, but sure sounds like it. 

                                              • Reply by Will.

                                                You should get your hearing checked. 

                                            • Comment by JRII.

                                              It's hard to believe that N4J just used the comments section in a news article -- reliable sources???

                                              "After News4JAX posted a story Thursday about the warrant being served, dozens of people commented and claimed the company’s business practices are shady, and said things like they only take cash on the weekends."

                                              Then, even better:

                                              "“Well, you know what? I looked at all those comments, every single one. And the one thing that they all have in common: they were towed,” Serrano said."

                                              Of course, sir! Those are the only folks qualified to discuss the quality of your services! 






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