EXCLUSIVE: GTA truck dealer pleads guilty to rolling back odometers

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BRAMPTON, Ont. — A Brampton used truck dealership has pled guilty to fraud after rolling back the odometer readings on some 21 trucks sold within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

But Trucknews.com has learned from sources that it’s suspected up to 400 trucks sold by TrucksRUs could have been involved in the scheme.

Some of those trucks originally belonged to Kurtz Trucking. Owner Brian Kurtz told Trucknews.com that he has always signed the ownership when selling his used trucks, but didn’t fill out odometer readings. He says he has sold 300-400 trucks over 25 years this way, but now the reseller convicted of fraud is suing him for improperly filling out the ownership certificate.

Court documents, obtained by Trucknews.com, show TrucksRUs owner Balwant Singh Sekhon pled guilty to one count of fraud involving 21 trucks, having “by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, defrauded the public including business corporations of a sum of money exceeding $5,000 by causing truck odometers to be rolled back, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada.”

Kurtz said TrucksRUs apparently purchased used Kenworth speedometers online and replaced those in his previously owned trucks. The company was busted by a customer who then ran an ECU report on the mileage and discovered the discrepancy.

Sekhon’s sentence included nine months of house arrest, 18 months of probation and the payment of $28,000 in restitution. But that is for 21 trucks. Customers who purchased trucks from the company may want to check their ECU read-outs and align them with the odometer on the dash.

Meanwhile, TrucksRUs is suing Brian Kurtz Trucking, alleging that it improperly filled out ownership documents, which resulted in the charges. Kurtz is incredulous.

“He’s trying to get $25,000 out of me,” Kurtz said of the lawsuit. “It’s going to cost me $15,000 just to fight it. It’s ludicrous! It has never been a problem with the 300-400 trucks I’ve sold over the years.”

Trucknews.com has learned many previous buyers of used trucks from TrucksRUs were in attendance when the conviction was handed down. We’ve also learned the company has re-launched under another name, with a Web site based in Brampton. Cue the lawsuits.

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  • The court should have revoked the dealer lic & any sales person’d lic. as well. Also these people involved should be banned from having anything to do with any vehicle sales!!! Too easy just to switch co. name & carry on ‘screwing’ people under another name!!!!

  • Typical BS , guy scams people but back in business under a new name, as for Brian Kurtz is it not the law that the OWNERSHIPS be PROPERLY filled out when transfering them at time of sale.

  • I would NEVER buy anything truck related from the GTA from anything but an authorized OEM dealer. Too many imported scammers having a free-for-all.

  • Where is the justice for the purchasers of these trucks?
    Trucking is a tough business to turn a profit especially for a small independent broker. How do these truckers get compensated for being misled on their purchase. Our laws do not protect the victim. This company will continue to operate or just change names, and the owner will continue to operate business from the comfort of his home.
    As long as crime pays in Canada, we will have crime. Hard working truckers get (drive)shaft again.

  • OMVIC should do something with the new $5 fees imposed. They should perform random checks to comply with their mandate. Otherwise we can consider OMVIC another scam.

  • Seems to be such a small price to pay for the profit he likely made.

    also..it seems that we need to check for who the owners are….I for one will avoid those with similiar names

  • Just goes to show what a mess our Legal system is in. I know people who have had harsher sentences for lesser crimes. That jerk should have received nine years for his fraund and then deported. Canada is turning into a haven for the disshonest. How can a fraud artist open another business under different names and do the same thing over again?
    Seem nobody is to be trusted these days! What a country we live in where the guilty pay less for the crime than do the victims!

  • I wouldn`t buy anything truck related in the GTA from these imported scammers. Deal with authorized OEM dealers only.

  • Well now isn’t this original, a foreigner trying to put the blame on someone else. He knew what he was doing, that’s why he didn’t say anything about not having the odometer readings filled in. I hope Kurtz fights this and wins, cause i wouldn’t be paying this a** a dime.

  • How can the owner of TrucksRus sue Brian Kurtz???? Common sense in this country has been lost. It’s sad really.

  • It is very sad and unacceptable is this you are doing with your customers.It will come out who is involved in scam.Why these big companies not selling used trucks by their own.

  • Trust me its not just New Canadians doing this. If your ever looking at a used unit in the KW areabe VERY VERY careful. Just because they act like nice guys doesn’t mean a thing.