Compton : Hearings Continued in Car Dealer Fraud Case

Hearings have been continued in the case of Brett Mitchell, the Compton auto dealer whom the state Department of Motor Vehicles closed down and accused of defrauding a Long Beach finance company. After two days of hearings last week, a state administrative law court is scheduled to take up the case again March 16 and 17.

The DMV suspended the operating license of Mitchell’s Chevrolet dealership in the Compton Auto Plaza in December for alleged sales and tax irregularities. In January, the state canceled the license on the grounds that Mitchell had not filed corporate information required by the secretary of state.

Late last month, the DMV filed new charges, alleging that Mitchell received money from a finance company for new-car titles but failed to transfer the titles to the company, Fidelity Financial. Mitchell and his attorneys have insisted that they will fight to get the license reinstated and that the dealership will reopen.

Mitchell, who received rent subsidies and direct loans from the city of Compton, owes it about $130,000 in back rent and loan payments.