An Arizona auto mechanic has pleaded guilty to defrauding customers in Missouri and other states out of more than $1.4 million. Andres “Manny” Lopez, 36, admitted to accepting payments for vehicle upgrades and parts with no intention of completing the work, using the money for personal expenses instead.
Lopez operated All Performance Tuning and Diesel Repair LLC in Arizona, where he carried out the fraudulent scheme from November 2019 to July 2023.
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He also admitted to damaging customer vehicles and loaning them out without permission. In some cases, Lopez accepted upfront payments to locate and purchase vehicles for customers but then fabricated excuses for non-delivery, using the money for personal use.
One Missouri victim wired Lopez $45,000 for a Toyota RAV4, only to be met with a series of false excuses and delays. Lopez even impersonated a Toyota dealership manager to deceive the victim’s mother.
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The fraudulent activity continued even after Lopez was indicted in October 2023. He admitted to defrauding an additional victim out of over $560,000 after the indictment.
Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in St. Louis and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9th.
The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting.
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