ALBANY, N.Y.—Credit Union Auto Buying Service, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against brothers Joseph and Chauncey Strevell claiming that it paid more than $1 million for 46 used cars for which titles were never delivered, in addition to eight vehicles valued at $167,000 that were allegedly also not delivered.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in North Carolina by the CUSO, which sells cars to CU members in the Carolinas.
"Without the certificates of title for the vehicles at issue, CUABS is unable to sell them and they are degrading and depreciating," the lawsuit states. The claim also alleges the Strevells’ business "re-sold or has listed for sale a number of vehicles at issue through other auctions instead of delivering them to CUABS."
Joseph Felix Strevell pleaded guilty seven years ago to stealing more than $111,500 from the state of New York. The brothers had more recently operated a business called Joe’s Garage in Rensselaer, N.Y., but it has been shuttered.