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Steven Amato, 44, of Clifton and Robert Scott, 42, of East Orange were arrested in June following a lengthy investigation by Paramus police with the assistance of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the owners of Hyundai of Paramus on Route 4 East, Paramus Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg said.
Both were charged in connection with deposits that were pocketed and not included on applications to finance companies, he said.
Authorities have since determined that there may be other alleged victims, Ehrenberg said.
Customers who dealt with either man the past three years “need to look at their original Hyundai sales contacts and compare them with the finance company contracts,” the chief told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Amato remained free on $75,000 bail and Scott on $2,500 bail pending further action on charges of theft and forgery following their June 16 arrests by Detective Doug Ohlendorf.
The investigation began in May, after customers complained to police of “discrepancies and changes in their original sales contracts when compared to those of their lending companies that they would make their payments to,” Ehrenberg said.
“These changes included missing down payments and forged signatures,” the chief said.
Ehrenberg emphasized that “it appears that the ownership and management of Hyundai of Paramus were unaware of their employees actions. Hyundai of Paramus cooperated fully during the investigation.”
The chief asked that anyone who might be a victim contact his department at (201) 262-3400 ext. 403 or email Detective Ohlendorf at dohlendorf@paramuspolice.org.
MUGSHOTS: Courtesy PARAMUS PD
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