e‘Most wanted’ Scot admits £420k luxury car con in US
A SCOTS-born businessman who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list has admitted carrying out a £420,000 luxury car scam.
Afzal Khan fled the US after being accused of conning customers and financial firms at a motor dealership he ran in New Jersey.
The 38-year-old, originally from Edinburgh, handed himself into authorities in the United Arab Emirates in February and was flown back to America.
He has been held in custody since and has now admitted fraud involving supercars including Lamborghinis, Porsches and Rolls-Royces. Khan, who was on the FBI list for five years, faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in December.
The flamboyant businessman, known to his clients as Bobby, opened the Emporio Motor Group in New Jersey in 2013 and maintained a high profile. He appeared on US reality series The Real Housewives of New Jersey and counted cast members among his clients.
The US District Court of New Jersey heard he obtained loans from a bank for cars that he never delivered, but for which the purchaser was still responsible.
He also received loans for cars that were delivered, but for which neither he nor Emporio had title documents.
As a result, the purchasers were liable for the loan, but could not register the vehicles. Khan also offered to sell cars for customers, and then neither returned the cars nor provided any money from car sales. He admitted that as a result of his actions, he exposed the bank involved to a potential loss of at least £420,000.
The offences took place between December 2013 and
‘I’m a fugitive from justice’
September 2014. Khan appeared on US television in November to say he wanted to surrender, but claimed his offers were ignored by prosecutors.
In a video phone interview with the Fox News network, Khan said he had been hiding out in a country that had no extradition treaty with the US.
He added: ‘What more do I have to do? I’m basically practically begging you. I’m a fugitive from justice saying “arrest me”.
‘I’m not pleading guilt, I’m not pleading innocence. The point is I need to get my wife and kids home so I can stand trial.’ Khan was born in Edinburgh to Pakistani parents and moved to the US more than 20 years ago.
Police and the FBI attempted to arrest him at his New Jersey home in October 2014 but could not locate him.
He was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted ‘white collar criminals’ list.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey said: ‘Khan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offence.’