Manager convicted on four counts heads to jail after pleading guilty
The former manager of a Santa Monica Aamco repair shop surrendered to authorities Monday to begin a 30-day jail sentence for charges that he ripped off customers.
Peter Joseph Trotter, who used to repair transmissions at Aamco located at 2621 Pico Boulevard, pleaded guilty on July 2 of one count of grand theft, two counts of false advertising and one count of faulty workmanship. His former boss and the business’ previous owner, Moshen Rabiee, faces similar charges on Sept. 5.
Besides serving 30 days in jail, Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Bernard J. Kamins ordered Trotter to pay $1,512 in fines and restitution. He also forbid him from ever working in the automotive repair industry again.
Repeated complaints by customers of the Aamco shop led to an undercover sting operation by agents from the state’s Bureau of Automotive Repair. Customers reported two years ago that mechanics at the shop were making unnecessary repairs, officials said.
The bureau conducted three sting operations at the shop in late 2000 and early 2001 to establish a standard of deceptive business practices, bureau officials said. In all three instances, automobiles were sent in for minor repair work, but mechanics at the shop convinced the undercover agents of the need for far greater and more expensive work.
Additionally, the agents found that much of the work done by the shop’s mechanics was in many cases never completed. Often, parts that allegedly needed to be replaced — and for which the customers were billed — were actually never replaced.
“We want to send out a strong message that we take the prosecution of deceptive automotive repair practices seriously in California,” said Feliciano Sanchez, manager of the bureau’s Culver City office, which conducted the sting.
“In this case, a simple repair would have taken care of the problem, but they chose knowingly to sell a complete transmission overhaul when they were able to easily determine it wasn’t needed,” he said. “It all goes back to the evil green — the greed for more and more money.”
After the bureau’s sting was complete, it sent the case to the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office to prosecute. Deputy City Attorney Adam Radinsky, who manages the city’s consumer affairs division, said Santa Monica filed charges in May 2001.
“Any consumer who is suspicious of excessive repairs or charges should contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair,” he said. “And of course (any past Aamco shop customers) would be welcome to go to small claims court or hire an attorney on their own if they felt they had been subject to any deceptive business practices there.”
Bureau officials recommend shopping around for a car mechanic as is often done when looking for a doctor or a dentist. The bureau’s Web site at www.autore-pair.ca.gov allows users to search repair shops by name to find out if there have been any complaints lodged against it.
Those without Internet access are encouraged to call (800) 952-5210 if they suspect wrong doing by a repair shop or would like to find out more information about a mechanic.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 16, 2002. Read the original PDF.