A Justice Department investigation found that cities illegally auctioned hundreds of service members’ vehicles, including San Antonio and El Paso.
The Justice Department filed suit last week against the city of El Paso and the two companies, one of them based in San Antonio, for auctioning off the vehicles of at least 176 soldiers in possible violation of the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The vehicles had been left at the city’s impound lot.Army Lt. Col. Lisa Dechent bought a top-of-the-line 2016 Chevrolet Silverado pickup when she was stationed at Fort Bliss in West Texas.
Dechent’s case prompted the Justice Department to investigate. Last week, it filed suit against El Paso and the two companies, one of them based in San Antonio, for auctioning off vehicles owned by at least 176 service members possibly in violation of the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The lawsuit seeks to halt the illegal auction practices and recoup losses for Dechent and at least 175 others.The suit is just the latest enforcement by the Justice Department as it cracks down on lenders, storage operators, landlords and local governments over apparent violations of the SCRA.
San Antonio agreed to pay $29,000 to Air Force staff sergeant for her car, which the city auctioned off for $6,600 while she was deployed in Afghanistan, and $18,000 to an Army soldier whose motorcycle was towed from his San Antonio apartment while he attended training at Fort Hood near Killeen.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pomerantz raises key question about feds' role in Trump evading justiceMark Pomerantz, the man who led the Manhattan DA's investigation into Donald Trump's alleged financial crimes, raises a key question about the DOJ's role in Trump evading justice. (via Deadline: Legal Blog)
Read more »
Justice Department charges two people with conspiracy to destroy energy facilities | CNN PoliticsThe Justice Department has charged two people with conspiracy to damage energy facilities, alleging that the Maryland-focused plot was driven by ethnically or racially motivated extremist beliefs.
Read more »
City to provide update on Department of Justice review of Columbus policeThe Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services unit has been looking at Columbus police since September 2021.
Read more »
Some Jan. 6 rioters backtrack on apologies after serving penaltiesSome defendants have drawn ire from judges or the Justice Department for their inconsistent comments.
Read more »
DOJ will review Memphis police force after the death of Tyre NicholsThe Justice Department will look at the Memphis Police Department’s special units and use of force, using an office that the GOP has targeted in budgets.
Read more »
Fentanyl from a Carrollton drug house killed 3 students, hospitalized 6, feds sayThe complaint alleges a drug house operated four blocks from R.L. Turner High School and juvenile dealers sold to classmates.
Read more »