BlackICE
GT Owner
As this story unravels, it sounds familar to another specialty car builder's saga where some people are happy and others have cars in limbo.
Unique performance raided by police
- Thread starter MK2_GT
- Start date
The media is completely skewing this whole story. They keep saying that Unique was restoring original Shelby's. As everyone here knows, they were building replica Elenors. Not hardly the same thing. Sad that buyers were paying so much money for a car built with Chinese parts and Bondo. I guess that explains why some celebrities have been dumping their cars at auction. Makes me glad I am building my own 67 GT500 replica. At least I will know exactly what was used to put it together.
unique
This is straight out FRAUD......I say hang them, hang them high.....
I am still shocked at the amount of people that would just give their hard earned money to anyone, without some kind of protection....or guarantee....these are free lessons for the rest of us to learn from.....when I pay for something, you can be sure i'm either driving it or trailering it away.
just my 2 ct's
Gino
This is straight out FRAUD......I say hang them, hang them high.....
I am still shocked at the amount of people that would just give their hard earned money to anyone, without some kind of protection....or guarantee....these are free lessons for the rest of us to learn from.....when I pay for something, you can be sure i'm either driving it or trailering it away.
just my 2 ct's
Gino
Last edited:
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Update
Posted on CBS 11 Website:
cbs11tv.com - DA To Decide Fate Of Unique Performance Executives
DA To Decide Fate Of Unique Performance Executives
Charges Imminent
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 News) ―
Local and state police have wrapped up their investigation into a North Texas car company and CBS 11 has learned the Farmer's Branch Police Department has prepared 25 felony cases against the executives of Unique Performance.
The company refurbished cars, which they marketed to wealthy business people and celebrities for prices upwards of $200,000 each. Police confiscated the cars in November. Investigators say the company used inmates in the Texas prison system to build the cars.
As CBS 11 first reported on Jan. 31, inmates in two Texas units were employed by Unique Performance under a contract the company had with the prison system. Investigators believe inmates were illegally removing vehicle identification numbers from cars. Police say they don't anticipate filing criminal charges against inmates, instead they're focusing their investigation on who within the company gave the inmates orders to tamper with the VINS.
It will now be up to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to take those cases to the grand jury.
"It's a complicated case, so once they go over all the cases that were presented to them, then they'll decide the appropriate charges to file," explains Cpl. Chad Taylor with the Farmers Branch Police Department.
CBS 11 made several requests to interview inmates who were hired by Unique Performance. Administrators with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) have repeatedly denied requests, despite written letters from multiple inmates who say they are willing to talk to us.
TDCJ officials say the inmates may become part of a future internal administrative investigation by the Office of Inspector General and therefore should not be allowed speak to the media.
Regardless, CBS 11 continues to receive letters from inmates inside prison. One inmate says he was hired by Unique Performance and describes how the private company ran an "illegal chop shop" supported by taxpayers. The inmate claims "corruption behind prison walls." In a December interview with CBS 11, prison spokesman, Jason Clark, denied there was a "chop shop" operating inside the prison system and said TDCJ will let local investigators do their work to determine what happened inside the prison units.
Local and state investigators have completed their investigation and tell CBS 11 they have no opposition to inmates speaking to reporters.
Gov. Rick Perry says he is aware of the Farmers Branch investigation and changes may be needed in the prison work program.
Officials with the North Texas branch of the U. S. Secret Service Office also said they have identified three suspects in its own investigation into Unique Performance.
Federal investigators have presented their case to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which may pursue federal criminal charges.
Posted on CBS 11 Website:
cbs11tv.com - DA To Decide Fate Of Unique Performance Executives
DA To Decide Fate Of Unique Performance Executives
Charges Imminent
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 News) ―
Local and state police have wrapped up their investigation into a North Texas car company and CBS 11 has learned the Farmer's Branch Police Department has prepared 25 felony cases against the executives of Unique Performance.
The company refurbished cars, which they marketed to wealthy business people and celebrities for prices upwards of $200,000 each. Police confiscated the cars in November. Investigators say the company used inmates in the Texas prison system to build the cars.
As CBS 11 first reported on Jan. 31, inmates in two Texas units were employed by Unique Performance under a contract the company had with the prison system. Investigators believe inmates were illegally removing vehicle identification numbers from cars. Police say they don't anticipate filing criminal charges against inmates, instead they're focusing their investigation on who within the company gave the inmates orders to tamper with the VINS.
It will now be up to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office to take those cases to the grand jury.
"It's a complicated case, so once they go over all the cases that were presented to them, then they'll decide the appropriate charges to file," explains Cpl. Chad Taylor with the Farmers Branch Police Department.
CBS 11 made several requests to interview inmates who were hired by Unique Performance. Administrators with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) have repeatedly denied requests, despite written letters from multiple inmates who say they are willing to talk to us.
TDCJ officials say the inmates may become part of a future internal administrative investigation by the Office of Inspector General and therefore should not be allowed speak to the media.
Regardless, CBS 11 continues to receive letters from inmates inside prison. One inmate says he was hired by Unique Performance and describes how the private company ran an "illegal chop shop" supported by taxpayers. The inmate claims "corruption behind prison walls." In a December interview with CBS 11, prison spokesman, Jason Clark, denied there was a "chop shop" operating inside the prison system and said TDCJ will let local investigators do their work to determine what happened inside the prison units.
Local and state investigators have completed their investigation and tell CBS 11 they have no opposition to inmates speaking to reporters.
Gov. Rick Perry says he is aware of the Farmers Branch investigation and changes may be needed in the prison work program.
Officials with the North Texas branch of the U. S. Secret Service Office also said they have identified three suspects in its own investigation into Unique Performance.
Federal investigators have presented their case to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which may pursue federal criminal charges.
Gulf GT
GT Owner
I agree why the secret service? aren't they solely responsible for the security detail to the president of the well.... USA? following up on all death threats etc..... could it have been a miss print for a different agency? FBI DEA CIA ATF NSA etc....?
They also do their thing for visiting heads of state as well as I understand it.
What THEIR tie could be to this goofy situation is waaaaaay beyond me...
BlackICE
GT Owner
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
WHY, Bony????!
Why the devil would THEY give a darn about that? How is THAT a pblm for the pres., for instance?
Secret Services does have jurisdiction over counterfiet monies, so it would stand to reason VIN's are like money!
Kayvan
GT Owner
- Jul 13, 2006
- 4,782
Unique was on Rides TLC show on cable last week....all gushing how he was a legend and eleanor was the best car on earth...... Foose and Year One were other legitimate partners in the shows project car, a camaro thank god.
Easily can see how folks lined up for this.
Easily can see how folks lined up for this.
Mark IV
Active member
Here's why.....
http://www.secretservice.gov/mission.shtml
They do currency and financial crimes. The executive protection detail is the smallest part of the SS.