Charges dropped against car-fraud defendant

Federal attorneys have dropped charges against a Whiting businessman who had been accused of taking part in a car-fraud ring.

Prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss charges against Hosam Abul-Husn, 67, on Monday, and a federal judge granted the motion that same day.

The motion does not say why prosecutors decided to drop the charges.

Abul-Husn was accused of helping Orland Park, Ill.,resident Azzam Al-Hindi, 57, and his son, Tareq Al-Hindi, fraudulently obtain clean Indiana titles for vehicles they did not have the right to. Azzam Al-Hindi pleaded guilty last month to using his tow company, City Wide Auto Recovery and Premium Auto Sales, to tow vehicles and then charge such exorbitant towing and storage fees that owners would opt to surrender the vehicles rather than pay.

Once he had a clean title for the car, he then shipped it overseas.

Tareq Al-Hindi fled the country before he could be arrested.