DAVIE, Fla. (WSVN) – Authorities in Miami-Dade County have arrested the owners of a Davie luxury car dealership, accusing them of operating a yearslong scheme to defraud the state and buyers through fraudulent vehicle titles.
Michael Lucci, 32, and his wife, Emily Lucci, 30, co-owners and managers of Luxury Auto Source LLC, were arrested Wednesday on multiple felony charges related to alleged title fraud, according to arrest reports.
Investigators said Michael Lucci faces charges including racketeering, organized fraud exceeding $50,000, uttering forged instruments, perjury, and motor vehicle title fraud. Emily Lucci faces similar felony charges, authorities said.
The investigation began after officials uncovered allegedly fictitious repair invoices submitted to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to obtain rebuilt titles. The paperwork, filed through a Miami-Dade tag agency, falsely claimed extensive repairs on vehicles that had sustained significant auction damage, investigators said.
One example cited by detectives involved a blue 2020 Nissan GT-R that was retitled using an invoice claiming more than $18,000 in repairs from a Pompano Beach business. The shop owner later confirmed the invoice was fraudulent and said only about $1,200 in minor work had been performed.
Following that discovery, investigators reviewed other vehicles listed by Luxury Auto Source and identified at least eight additional high-end vehicles allegedly retitled using fraudulent documentation. These included Bentleys, BMWs, a Porsche 911, a Cadillac Escalade, and other luxury models.
Authorities warned that vehicles retitled through fraudulent means are considered contraband and may be subject to seizure and forfeiture, potentially placing unsuspecting buyers at risk.
Search and seizure warrants were executed at the dealership, where Michael Lucci was taken into custody without incident. Emily Lucci later surrendered at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, authorities said.
