1 Late Payment Turns Deadly: Florida Man Arrested for Honda Carjacking
A man working for a car dealership in Miami, Florida, has been arrested and convicted of carjacking after an unusual incident involving a Honda Accord buyer.
The event took place in December 2023, when a 24-year-old buyer, who had purchased a 2020 Honda Accord in October 2023, became the target of an aggressive repossession attempt by a dealership employee.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the situation began when the buyer purchased the vehicle from Guru Auto Sales for $13,800. However, the dealership failed to provide any loan paperwork at the time of sale.
Unbeknownst to the buyer, there were specific terms in place between Guru Auto Sales and the finance company handling the loan. If the buyer missed a payment within the first two months, the dealership would be responsible for buying out the loan.
The buyer did make a late payment, along with the associated late fee, which should have settled the account. But by December 15, 2023, the dealership received a letter from the finance company demanding the remaining loan balance of $13,000.
Despite this demand, the finance company explicitly instructed the dealership not to repossess the vehicle, as the account was still in good standing.
A few days later, on December 19, 2023, the buyer was driving their Honda Accord when they noticed a black BMW following them. At a red light, the driver of the BMW, identified as Erik Hadad, exited his vehicle and aggressively confronted the buyer.
Hadad tore off the temporary tag on the Accord and demanded that the buyer get out of the car. The buyer, who had never met Hadad and had no idea who he was, attempted to drive away when the light turned green.
Hadad, however, continued to pursue the buyer, following closely in his BMW and shouting threats.
He eventually brandished a firearm from his waistband, which prompted the buyer to stop and surrender the vehicle. Frightened for their safety, the buyer handed over the car and immediately called the police.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene and arrested Hadad, who was found with a loaded firearm holstered at his waist.
Following his arrest, Hadad faced charges of carjacking, and a federal jury recently found him guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for January.
This incident has brought further negative attention to Guru Auto Sales, a dealership already facing multiple complaints.
The Better Business Bureau has received seven complaints against the dealership, and some customers have also claimed that the dealership was involved in other business ventures, such as general contracting and home remodeling, at the same location.
According to their Google Plus page, Guru Auto Sales is now permanently closed.
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The case highlights not only the dangers of illegal repossession practices but also the potential for car dealership employees to cross legal boundaries in an attempt to resolve financial disputes.