They bought damaged vehicles in Germany or Belgium, put them back in working order and made a good profit by selling them on the Internet.
The practice of two couples from Val-d'Oise who concealed the origin of the vehicles from buyers allowed them to make substantial profits.
Read also Essonne: the obscure network of resale of damaged cars
According to the final evaluation of the judicial investigation, the profits exceeded 360,000 euros for the first couple, 86,000 euros for the second, over a period from 2011 to 2015. Amounts of which the tax authorities were never aware , which means that the defendants end up in court, tried for fraud but also for money laundering.
The investigation started with a blunder and a false declaration of theft to the Auvers gendarmerie.
An inhabitant of Hérouville, judged him for forgery and false denunciation, had reported the theft of a Mini à la Macif.
A wreck from which he wanted to obtain compensation.
However, the vehicle registration document was incorrect and the keys corresponded to another vehicle, in the name of one of the couples.
The intervention of the anti-fraud service of Macif thus allowed the gendarmes to gradually reassemble the whole system of the two friendly couples.
A majority of recent models, easier to sell
DS3s, many 3008s, 308s also but also Ford Fiestas, Opel Corsa or Clio: the target was recent vehicles, "in great demand on the market to allow rapid resale", notes the examining magistrate.
With this particularity that they were damaged cars bought in Germany or Belgium, repatriated to France to be repaired in a garage in Conflans (Yvelines).
A part of the vehicles were however registered "awaiting inspection" on the European file Eucaris.
They never saw any experts.
The cars were then offered for sale on Leboncoin or the Centrale, without there being any question of damaged vehicles or vehicles coming from abroad, the mileage lowered.
About a hundred victims identified
Investigators found 134 ads on Leboncoin for the two couples.
About a hundred victims have been identified, a party has become a civil party.
"I did not particularly agree, but I was aware," admits to the hearing Sandra L., 39, who works like her companion, Julien L., 41, in a car dealership in Cergy. -Pontoise.
Tax concealment?
“At the time, we weren't aware of it.
"She says she does not follow her accounts but assures that this money" has not changed [her] way of life ".
She especially defends herself having put dangerous cars back into circulation: “The cars are healthy.
In no case are we swindling people.
There is no will to deceive.
The cars were not damaged.
They had a bodywork defect, we had to redo a bumper, a wing… ”
This is emphasized by his lawyer, Maître Frédéric Aguillon, during a suspension of the hearing.
“The investigation showed that the cars sold were not dangerous.
There were no major repairs to be carried out on the vehicles, which was also the condition for them to free up the margin.
"
"I have never tampered with the meters"
This Wednesday afternoon, the main actor in the case, unemployed at the end of his rights in 2011 when he embarks on this occult professional activity, does not lack aplomb.
Julien B., 41, speaks of his "sharp eyes" in the automotive field, of his good reputation acquired "on the job".
He claims to have entrusted only small jobs to the mechanic of Conflans, himself working on the cars in this workshop.
“It sounds crazy to me,” he says of his profit of 360,000 euros. He also acknowledges having lowered the mileage in the advertisements. “But I have never tampered with the meters,” he adds, despite a telephone tapping which suggests otherwise. The president cites to him the case of a 5008 passed from 36,000 to 19,000 kilometers, of a C4 passing from 12,000 to 10,000.
Question from the prosecutor about listening to one of his conversations with his partner, concerning a client: “I left the game. "Is it because you're part of a scam and you're scamming people?" Julien B. affirms that no customer has ever complained about the mileage or the origin of the car that he would not have hidden. Some have nevertheless noted the absence of an Airbag at the rear, a leak from the tank… The trial continues until Friday.
