Ramsey Car Dealership Owner Indicted On Federal Wire Fraud Charges, Authorities Said

The owner of a Ramsey car dealership was indicted on federal wire fraud charges, authorities announced Tuesday.

A federal grand jury indicted Afzal Kahn, 32, on five counts of wire fraud, said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman. He allegedly bilked customers and banks out of $1.7 million.

Khan, a.k.a. ”Bobby Kahn,” of Egg Harbor Township, was initially charged on Dec. 23, 2014 and remains at large, Fishman said.

According to the indictment filed Tuesday, between December 2013 and September 2014, Khan, through his car dealership, Emporio Motor Group, obtained loans from the auto finance division of a large bank for fraudulent transactions involving vehicles from Lamborghini, Porsche, and Rolls Royce, Fishman said.

Khan would allegedly obtain loans for the cars but never delivered them and the purchasers were still responsible for paying back the loans, Fishman said; Khan also allegedly obtained loans for cars with titles that neither he nor Emporio had. The owners were responsible for the loans but could not register the cars they financed.

Khan allegedly fraudulently obtained 21 loans totaling more than $1.7 million.

Also, Khan offered to sell cars as a cosigner on the transactions but did not return the cars or provide any money to purchaser from the sale of the vehicles, Fishman said.

Khan could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison and a be fined $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, for each count of wire fraud.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation offered a $20,000 reward in March for information leading to his arrest.