Michael Satterfield
by Michael Satterfield – 03/18/2022
For the last few days, a low-resolution photo of a letter purporting to be from the Florida Highway Patrol Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence has been circulating online automotive forms and Facebook stating that approximately four hundred vehicle titles were being revoked due to an investigation to fraudulent applications for titles. After reaching out to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles we can finally confirm that the letter is indeed real and that the arrest of Andres Diaz the owner of SOHO Alliance LLC (DBA Soho Imports) and Nicole Chiong, was connected to the investigation.
The letter also names J-Spec Garage, which according to State of Florida records, is also owned by Diaz with Chiong registered as the Vice President. Unnamed “others” who were the targets of the investigation have not been identified at this time. In a document, The Gentleman Racer obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 348 vehicles connected to Soho were included in the nearly 400 vehicles that have had their titles revoked.
According to the document, between the dates of November 1, 2014, and October 18, 2020, “Soho did submit to the Department as supporting documentation a Form HSMV 84044, Affidavit, in which Respondent did use a false or fictitious name, give a false or fictitious address, or make any false statement in any application or affidavit required under the provisions of chapter 319 or in a bill of sale or sworn statement of ownership or otherwise commit a fraud in any application.”
Booking records from March 16, 2022, show that Diaz (Case Number: F22004208) was charged with over 150 counts connected to falsifying title documents. Booking records from March 7th, 2022 show that Nicole Chiong (Case Number: F22004210), who is listed as a manager of Soho Imports was also charged with the same counts. Neither defendant is being held in a county facility, it appears both have been released on bond pending trial. (The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is working to provide the arrest report and any new information provided will be updated as it comes available.)
In a blog post from 2014, Sean Morris of Toprank Importers a car import company based in California accused Diaz of forging documents to secure Florida titles for cars ineligible to be imported under Federal law. For many in the car community, it has been an open secret that these cars were illegally imported as prominent YouTubers have been flaunting illegally imported cars online for years, but now that Florida has cracked down and worked with the feds, these cars are completely black listed.
The letter goes on to state: “All vehicles identified in this investigation that have obtained fraudulent Florida titles will be ineligible for titling in Florida, regardless of any corrective measures taken. Furthermore, the United States Department of Homeland Security has notified the Florida Highway Patrol that all vehicles in this investigation, that have had a Florida title cancelled/revoked, have been placed on a contraband list, and would be ineligible for a title/registration in any state.”
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| Download Full List Below |
It is unclear how this will affect owners immediately, according to the letter owners may be allowed to keep their cars as property in non-operating status, or they may be able to export the vehicle, or Customs and Border Protection may seize the vehicle as contraband. It is safe to assume that with the State of Florida sending this list of vehicles to the Department of Homeland Security that owners should be anticipating some knocks on their door as this comes on the heels of last year’s news that Federal agents were sending out letters to owners of Florida titled GTRs.
We have reached out to our contacts at the Department of Homeland Security for comment, but have not yet received a reply. We are also interested in talking with owners who have had their titles revoked. This story will be updated as new information comes out.
Download Copy of the Letter HERE
Download Case Information and List of Cars HERE
Booking Records Can be Found by Searching by Name HERE
Update: We went through the complete list of blacklisted VIN chassis numbers from the Soho Imports investigation in Florida, finding out what model each car was. Check out the full list below including 87 Nissan Skylines, 27 Supras, and for some reason a US Spec Porsche 911 Turbo which was recently on Bring-A-Trailer. If one of these cars is your car, it might be a good idea to consult with a lawyer before trying to sell or export one of these cars. (NOTE: We did correct typos in the VIN to make sure they were correct, e.g. replacing a 5 with an S in an S15 chassis number.)
|
Make |
Model |
Year |
Vehicle |
|
Honda |
Accord |
2000 |
CL11001192 |
|
Honda |
Accord |
2003 |
CL11102149 |
|
Honda |
Accord |
1998 |
CF41039808 |
|
Honda |
Accord |
1999 |
CF41100334 |
|
Honda |
Accord |
2008 |
CW21000595 |
|
Honda |
Accord |
2003 |
CM21003690 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2016 |
FK21000570 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2008 |
FD21200434 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2010 |
FD21403349 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2007 |
FD21200645 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1995 |
EG41311562 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
FD35503477 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1996 |
EK41000976 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1992 |
EG61012376 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1992 |
EG61010596 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1993 |
EG61106063 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1997 |
EK41200151 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK41300220 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1993 |
EG61105975 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1992 |
EG61100678 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91103307 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2003 |
EP31100318 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2000 |
EK91204975 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1998 |
EK91004492 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1998 |
EK91006961 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91102883 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2000 |
EK91201891 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2003 |
EP31100253 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2000 |
EK91203140 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91103115 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91200651 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91201543 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
1999 |
EK91200614 |
|
Honda |
Civic |
2000 |
EK91204281 |
|
Honda |
CR-V |
2000 |
RD25101294 |
|
Honda |
CR-V |
2007 |
RE41005789 |
|
Honda |
CR-X |
1992 |
EF81102021 |
|
Honda |
CR-X |
1989 |
EF81001790 |
|
Honda |
Inspire |
2007 |
UC11201169 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
2004 |
DC51006918 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
1995 |
DB81103417 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
1996 |
DB81103544 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
1996 |
DB81103989 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
2000 |
DB81301664 |
|
Honda |
Integra |
1996 |
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