HOUSTON — A Harris County auto dealer is facing a claim it knowingly sold a stolen vehicle with an alternative VIN number to a customer.
Ibrahima Thiam filed a complaint Dec. 28 in Harris County District Court against Texas Elite Exotics LLC alleging violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).
According to the complaint, the plaintiff purchased a 2021 Maybach from the defendant's car lot for $210,000. The plaintiff alleges that after attempting to ship the vehicle overseas to Dakar, Senegal, and that the vehicle was seized by U.S. Customs and flagged as stolen.
The plaintiff further alleges that the defendant falsely stated the car had the correct VIN number when it actually had an alternate VIN number and that that the defendant failed to disclose that the car was stolen which was known to them at the time of the sales transaction.
Also according to the complaint, the defendant's actions have caused the plaintiff to suffer economic damages including the repair and replacement costs, attorney's fees and other damages. The plaintiff also alleges the defendant's actions violated the DTPA.
Thiam seeks monetary relief between $250,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. The plaintiff is represented by Derek Deyon of The Deyon Law Group PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-83377