Overview
- Attorney General Rob Bonta charged 14 people in a 56-count complaint tied to more than $20 million in luxury vehicle purchases registered to Montana entities.
- Prosecutors say defendants filed false DMV and tax forms and used fabricated bills of lading while the cars were delivered, stored, and driven in California.
- Texts quoted in the complaint reference buying a fake bill of lading and adding “generic signatures,” which investigators cite as evidence of intent.
- DMV and CDTFA report nearly 100 investigations since 2023 with $2.3 million recovered, and they estimate schemes cost the state more than $10 million annually.
- Authorities are reviewing thousands of Montana-linked sales across close to 500 dealers, with Beverly Hills flagged for roughly 416 cases, and potential penalties include full back taxes plus fines up to 50% of the original tax bill.