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Liberal_in_LA

(44,397 posts)
Sat Oct 10, 2015, 04:46 AM Oct 2015

Top L.A. County sheriff's official claims he thought buying 2012 Audi A4 for 3k was legit

Top L.A. County sheriff's official bought stolen Audi

-ranking Los Angeles County sheriff's official bought a stolen luxury sedan last year from the owner of a towing company that contracts with his agency, a Times investigation has found.

Assistant Sheriff Michael Rothans purchased the 2012 Audi A4 after it had been seized by sheriff's deputies from a suspected gang member at a drunk-driving checkpoint. The vehicle was originally stolen from an Orange County car dealership.


The Sheriff's Department launched an internal investigation last week after questions from The Times.

Rothans, the department's third-ranking official, said he had no idea he was driving a stolen car until more than a year after buying it from Lisa Vernola, a friend who owns Vernola's Towing in Norwalk.

Sheriff's officials are prohibited from purchasing property that has been seized by the department. The prohibition applies both to direct purchases and purchases made through a third party. Employees also are prohibited from personally profiting from their positions.


Rothans said he considered the sale a private transaction between friends and thought it was permitted.

Vernola had registered the car in her name about three weeks before she sold it to Rothans for $3,000, according to Department of Motor Vehicles records. She said she took ownership of the vehicle because no one claimed it from her impound lot or purchased it during a public sale. At the time, the car contained fake identification numbers. Under the law, unclaimed vehicles become the property of the towing yard.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-sheriff-stolen-audi-purchase-20151008-story.html

Blue Book value is $17,000.

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Top L.A. County sheriff's official claims he thought buying 2012 Audi A4 for 3k was legit (Original Post) Liberal_in_LA Oct 2015 OP
Another corrupt cop. madaboutharry Oct 2015 #1
Sheriffs are elected. JonathanRackham Oct 2015 #2
That doubles the chances. madaboutharry Oct 2015 #3
The Sheriff is elected SoCalNative Oct 2015 #4
Sounds like he's a crook though madokie Oct 2015 #5
Exactly pinboy3niner Oct 2015 #8
Hey, would a cop lie about something like this? bemildred Oct 2015 #6
Yay, Cops! Iggo Oct 2015 #7
Reminds me of Pulp Fiction, Monster Joe's.... winstars Oct 2015 #9

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
8. Exactly
Sat Oct 10, 2015, 11:41 AM
Oct 2015

The only elected official in the department is the L.A. County Sheriff. The several Assistant Sheriffs and the Undersheriffs above them are appointed by the Sheriff.

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