May 20, 2008

CAR-DEALER ACCOUNTANT ADMITS FRAUD

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Sean A. Johnson, 41, of Chester, Vermont, pleaded guilty today to fraud based upon his involvement in two Vermont car dealerships in 2003 and 2004. Johnson pleaded guilty before Judge J. Garvan Murtha, in the United States District Court in Brattleboro.

According to the Indictment, in 2003 and 2004 Johnson was an accountant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During that time he solicited investors to buy two Vermont car dealerships: Catamount Chrysler-Dodge, in Morrisville, and Catamount Chevrolet, in Waterbury. The indictment charged Johnson with fraud in connection with the financing of both dealerships. In federal court today, Johnson admitted fraudulently diverting $193,000 from one of his accounting clients in Florida to buy the Chrysler-Dodge dealership in December, 2003. He also admitting diverting $200,000 from a Vermont bank account, placed there by an investor to buy Catamount Chevrolet, to a personal bank account that Johnson controlled in Florida, and using the money for other purposes. Judge Murtha scheduled sentencing to take place in September, 2008. Johnson was released on supervision by the Probation Office. He is represented by attorney Thomas Sherrer of Burlington. The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Bill Darrow.