Former Sales Manager at Freeman Moore Mazda Sentenced to 175 Months for Fraud, Identity Theft

MEMPHIS—Christopher Rose, 44, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 175 months in prison last week by Chief Judge Jon McCalla for being the mastermind of a wide variety of conspiracies designed to defraud banks, lending institutions, car dealerships, and the general public.

On July 22, 2011, Rose pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; two counts of aggravated identity fraud; one count of uttering and possession of counterfeit securities; and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

On at least four occasions, while working as an independent contractor salesperson at City Auto, Rose used customers’ private financial information to obtain loans fraudulently and deposited the money into his personal accounts.

While working as a General Sales Manager at Freeman Moore Mazda, Rose developed a scheme to qualify customers for auto purchase who could not qualify under legitimate means. Using forged and doctored documents, including cashier’s checks and W-2s, Rose attempted, and in most cases succeeded, in obtaining financing for 17 individuals from late May 2008 through June 26, 2008.

In addition, Rose used forged cashier’s checks to fraudulently obtain clear title to a 2009 Porsche Cayenne from SunTrust Bank and then used that car to obtain a 2009 Nissan Maxima and over $14,000 from Homer Skelton Wolfchase Hyundai.

In another instance, Rose created lien release documents and submitted them to Shelby County Registry of Deeds for the purpose of defrauding both Wells Fargo Bank and Bank of America. The two banks were lienholders on Rose’s residence, and he planned to sell the home, collect the $230,000 in proceeds, and default on loans totaling $407,000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Steve Parker represented the government.