Hills man accused of odometer fraud

A Hills man faces charges including second-degree fraud based on allegations that he turned back the odometers on 14 vehicles before reselling them for a profit.

Marshall M. Miller, 35, faces 10 counts of second-degree fraudulent practices, a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison; three counts of third-degree fraudulent practices and one count of fourth-degree fraudulent practices, according to charges made public this week.

Miller is accused of buying vehicles, often from dealerships, and lowering the odometer readings and reselling the vehicles for a profit from January to July.

In one case, Miller allegedly bought a Black 2009 Chevy Tahoe with 274,000 miles for $3,000 on July 8. The same truck with mileage of 116,495 was sold July 13 for $7,000, the criminal complaint states. The difference between the value of those mileage readings is $2,425.

The alleged fraudulent practices happened at Elite Auto Worx in North Liberty, where Miller works. The business is owned by Brandy Miller, Miller’s wife, according to search warrant records by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Investigation & Identity Protection, which investigated the case.

When reached by phone Tuesday, Marshall Miller said the allegations are false.

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