The owner of an Englewood-based business, The Lease Brokers, is believed to have fled the country after allegedly having stolen vehicles and money from consumers, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General John Suthers said today that William Paul Buckley agreed to assume responsibility for making payments on 12 vehicles which he said he and his company would market to prospective buyers.
Instead, according to an indictment announced today, Buckley, of Denver, took possession of the vehicles and made some or no payments.
He then allegedly sold some of the vehicles to buyers but never delivered title. In some cases, he never delivered the vehicle, according to the indictment.
Buckley, according to the indictment, used a website to advertise his business and to attract customers. He initially operated from 511 Crossing Drive, Suite 204, in Lafayette. He then relocated the business in September or October of 2010 to 2870 S. Broadway in Englewood.
The indictment said Buckley employed at least two people to use the Internet to search for vehicles that had been advertised for sale by their owners.
He then allegedly instructed the employees to contact the vehicle owners and offer to take possession of their vehicles and to take over existing leases or loan payments while locating third parties who would either buy the vehicles or assume the owners’ financial obligations.
The grand jury alleged that Buckley intended to make a profit by charging a down payment to buyers or sublessees and slightly inflating monthly payments.
Buckley used to advertise and eventually sell vehicles obtained under false pretenses to unwitting purchasers in Colorado and other states, said the indictment.
Buckley could face up to 12 years in prison and a $750,000 fine on each of the four class-three felonies.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
