Cops Finally Arrest Ex-Porsche Salesman Accused Of Stealing Customers’ Deposits

BY Brad Anderson | Posted on

A former Porsche salesman embroiled in a sales scandal late last year has been arrested and charged in U.S. District Court in Florida, Auto News reports.

Shiraaz Sookralli, 44, has been charged in connection with an alleged scheme that reportedly saw him enter bogus orders for special Porsche models while he worked at Champion Porsche in Florida, the highest-volume Porsche dealership in the United States.

The criminal complaint asserts that in 2017, Sookralli opened a shell company called Champion Autosport. Sookralli proceeded to open a bank account in the corporation’s name and entered in bogus sales orders with customers purchasing desirable 911 models, such as the GT3 and GT3 RS. Customers would send deposits to Sookralli, which he put in the bank account of his shell company.

No such thing as a perfect crime

According to the complaint, Sookralli received more than $2.2 million from approximately 30 customers, none of whom received their cars, as the 44-year-old allegedly used the money for jewelry, luxury vehicles, and on nightclubs and restaurants.

The former salesman was charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and money laundering. U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida confirmed the arrest alongside Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony, but did not say exactly when the arrest was made.

Champion Porsche filed a lawsuit against Sookralli in October last year and announced that it will reimburse the deposits to customers. The dealership will try to recover the stolen money through the lawsuit against Sookralli, his wife, and the Champion Autosport shell company.

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