Predatory Tow Operator Put Out of Business By Court

SUITLAND, MD — A tow company owner who preyed on customers of a restaurant as they picked up takeout orders has been put out of business by the courts.

FFC Towing owner Frederick Cooper was arrested and indicted in February 2015 on 99 counts of illegally towing cars in Prince George’s County.

Between January and October of 2014, many of the victims of the predatory towing practices said they parked in spaces marked for another business when they dropped by Sylvestre’s Chicken in Suitland for to-go orders.

Cooper received 27 months of suspended jail time, three years of probation and is required to surrender his county towing license.

The restaurant had an agreement with Cooper to tow vehicles that parked illegally in its lot, according to a release from the State’s Attorney’s office. The tow drivers would watch drivers who parked in the restaurant’s lot, and then begin hooking up the cars, the release says.

Lamin Jobe told WJLA that he was only in the restaurant for “seconds,” but when he left, the FFC tow truck driver required him to pay $175 cash to free his car.

The station reports it is illegal to require drivers to pay in cash only, to charge more than $50 for a drop free, and to not provide a receipt.