In a startling revelation, a man named Michael Gonzalez has been sentenced to four years in prison for duping Tesla, the electric vehicle behemoth, into delivering five brand new cars worth over $560,000 without receiving any payment.
This audacious scam has exposed a significant vulnerability in the digital purchasing systems of high-value items such as vehicles.
According to Forbes, Gonzalez, 34, ingeniously manipulated Tesla's payment system by providing false bank details during the online purchase process. This allowed him to take possession of the vehicles before Tesla could ascertain that the accounts were devoid of adequate funds.
However, Gonzalez's fraudulent activities did not end with merely acquiring the cars. He went on to resell three of them, successfully deceiving the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles into issuing titles for the cars. These titles were then handed over to unsuspecting buyers, further highlighting the potential risks associated with digital purchasing systems.
In an audacious move, when Tesla did not provide a certificate of ownership for one of the cars, thereby preventing him from obtaining a title, Gonzalez resorted to an extreme measure. He drove the vehicle onto the frozen surface of Lake Champlain, set it on fire, and attempted to claim the loss with his insurance company. This act of insurance fraud was the tipping point that brought his elaborate scam into the limelight.
The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Vermont has reported that Gonzalez pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing and disposing of stolen vehicles that had crossed state lines. His punishment includes a four-year prison term, followed by three years of probation.
Gonzalez has been mandated to pay $493,043 in restitution to Tesla and an additional $231,900 to the United States government.
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