Two people who worked for an Oakland-based towing company have pleaded no contest to charges they towed vehicles illegally, authorities said Friday.
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The case was tied to the car-towing company Private Property Impound, Inc., and authorities said the company itself also pleaded no contest to the illegal tows, as well as felony tax evasion. The convictions were announced by Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price.
Wayne Russo, 37, and Stephanie Gipson, 36, entered their pleas earlier this week, along with the company, Price said. Russo and Gipson pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of illegally towing vehicles from private properties, Price said.
Russo also received a 90-day sentence in county jail to be served on home detention with electronic monitoring. Price said he must pay the restitution costs that were part of his sentence before Dec. 4, or he won’t remain on home detention.
Price added that the company and two defendants also agreed to pay nearly $500,000 to finance a restitution fund to repay the victims; $75,000 to cover the costs of hiring a professional claims administration to contact potential victims and administer the restitution fund; and $330,000 to the California franchise tax board for back taxes, interests and investigative costs.
Gipson received a 90-day probationary sentence and told to perform 50 hours of community service, Price said.
The charges came after a 2018 story in an East Bay media publication described the company as “one of the worst offenders” of towing cars. Price said a reformed unit that deals with consumer, environmental and special prosecution cases brought the case to trial five years later.
“Illegal towing disproportionately affects our community’s most vulnerable residents, for whom the family car can be a lifeline to attend work, get their kids to school and seek medical care,” Price said in a statement. “The plea deal and restitution fund negotiated by my office will put real money in the hands of those who need it most.”
Price said her office will mail a claims form that will be mailed in three languages to 8,000 potential victims.