Columbus, Ohio – Authorities have charged a Columbus man with altering vehicle odometers at a former dealership he owned and operated in Whitehall. Simon C. Nwaru, Jr., 38, the owner of S. Automotive Ltd., was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier this week.
According to the eight-count indictment, from November 2020 to May 2022, Nwaru “knowingly disconnected, reset and altered the mileage registered by the odometer on vehicles, changing them from high mileage to lower mileage, before selling them to customers.” The charging document outlines that eight vehicles had their mileage illegally reduced, with each vehicle’s odometer reading lowered by approximately 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
Altering odometers is considered a serious federal crime, carrying a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison. Officials said odometer fraud significantly misleads consumers, causing financial loss and potential safety concerns.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard will be prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation, and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Investigations Section.
Authorities stress the broader cost of odometer fraud, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimating that it costs American consumers more than $1 billion each year. NHTSA encourages anyone suspecting odometer fraud to report it by emailing [email protected] or calling 800-424-9393.
