Man accused of
rolling back odometer
A Honolulu man was arrested yesterday after an Oahu grand jury indicted him on 10 charges, including rolling back odometers, stemming from the sale of two used Dodge Caravans.
John L. Florence, also known as Ken Williams and Thomas Clarke, was indicted Dec. 2 on multiple counts of misrepresenting mileage and second-degree theft in the sales of a 1995 and a 1997 van.
In announcing the indictment, state Attorney General Mark Bennett said the Criminal Justice Division is investigating "a number of unlicensed used motor vehicle dealers who are preying on consumers on Oahu."
Rolling back an odometer to misrepresent mileage when selling a car is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison, or a fine of $2,000 or twice the amount of profit earned, whichever is greater.
The indictment alleges Florence sold motor vehicles without a dealer's license, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.
Florence is also charged with advertising a used car for sale without listing the license plate number, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.
According to the indictment, Florence allegedly committed forgery on the certificate of title. He is also charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle after his license had been revoked for driving while intoxicated.
Bennett urged consumers who believe they have been a victim of a used-car scam to contact the local police department or the investigations division of his office.