#1
#1 out of 1
crime20h ago
Van conversion business owner agrees to plead guilty in fraud case - VTDigger
- Strong agreed to plead guilty to a single wire fraud count in Burlington federal court, marking a final step in the case.
- The indictment covers payments from van customers who did not receive completed builds or timely updates.
- Strong reportedly operated East Coast Van Builds from 2021 through at least 2024, offering converts of Ford Transit and Mercedes vans.
- Customers described delays, excuses, and miscommunications as work stalled for months or years.
- The plea requires forfeiture of about $477,502 tied to the payments ordered by customers.
- The case involves multiple states and dozens of affected customers who faced non-delivery and poor communication.
- Strong allegedly used customer funds for other ventures, including a music festival.
- One customer described the final outcome as a nearly complete failure of the promised build.
- A private Facebook group for victims grew to 37 members amid ongoing complaints about the delays.
- The court case does not yet have a scheduled plea hearing date.
Vote 0