| For Immediate Release Case # 12CF3155 October 31, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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CAR BUSINESS OWNER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR EMBEZZLING PROCEEDS OF CUSTOMER VEHICLES SOLD ON CONSIGNMENT
SANTA ANA – A car business owner and operator is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for embezzling the sale proceeds of rare and vintage vehicles sold on consignment. John Calicchio, 63, Costa Mesa, is charged with 14 counts of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, five counts of grand theft by false pretenses, two counts of diversion of funds, and four counts of money laundering with sentencing enhancement allegations for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and loss over $200,000. If convicted, Calicchio faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in state prison. The defendant is being held on $250,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is expected to be arraigned Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Calicchio is accused of owning and operating Euro Masters Classic Cars in Fountain Valley. Between June 2010 and October 2011, the defendant is accused of entering into consignment agreements with customers to sell their vintage Porsche vehicles. He is accused of selling consignment vehicles in amounts ranging from $25,000 to $47,000 and diverting the proceeds of the sales to his personal and business accounts.
Calicchio is also accused of defrauding victims who purchased and paid for their vehicles in full. The victims were unable to obtain legal titles for their vehicles because the owners holding titles were never paid for through the consignment sales. The defendant is accused of closing his business in October 2011 and filing for bankruptcy in an attempt to discharge the debts owed to the owners and purchasers of vehicles he sold on consignment.
The Fountain Valley Police Department investigated this case and arrested Calicchio yesterday, Oct. 30, 2012.
Deputy District Attorney Chuck Lawhorn of the White Collar Crime Team is prosecuting this case.
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