The state has launched an investigation into a local used car dealer for allegedly rolling back an odometer.

               Licensing officials want to know if more roll-backs could be sitting on the same car lot.  But the state didn't even know about the supposed fraud until KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy took the evidence to Olympia.

               Documents show a 2001 Yukon had at last 140,000 miles under its hood.  So why did a used car dealer try to pass it off as a much less-traveled vehicle?  That’s what Clancy wanted to know.

Larry, or Valeriy Nyukeyev, owns Best Autos on Pacific Highway South in Federal Way.

http://bcove.me/itjyvqbr

He and his business partner, Alex Nyukeyev, committed fraud, according to John Kaminski of Bainbridge Island.

“I think they turned back the odometer,” said Kaminski.

• LINK:  Tips for buying a car
• LINK:  Title information
• PDF: Odometer disclosure statement
• PDF:  Carfax vehicle history report
• PDF:  Service records

Kaminski's vehicle maintenance records show his SUV had travelled more than 140,000 miles. That's also what the odometer showed when he tried to sell the vehicle online.

But when the Yukon didn't sell, he took it to Best Autos and traded it for a 2000 Subaru with 135,000 miles. Within a week, Kaminski says the Subaru started having problems.

He got really suspicious about his deal with Larry Nyukyev when he received a call from someone interested in buying his old Yukon, which was currently sitting on Best Autos' lot.

“In that conversation he said, ‘So, it’s got 80,000 miles on it.’  And I said, ‘Back up.  How many miles?’  ‘Eighty-thousand.”   I said, ‘It had over 140,000 miles on it when we sold it.’  And that’s when all the red lights went off,” said Kaminski.

               Kaminski went online and found Best Autos' listing for his Yukon with a mileage claim of 79,000.

               So, he went back to the lot and took a picture.  Kaminski then confronted Larry Nyukeyev.

“I said, ‘I know you’re turning back the odometers.’  And he said, ‘Let’s see what we can do.’  And so they gave me cash for the Subaru in exchange.”

Clancy: "Why do you think he gave you money?”

Kaminski:  “Oh, I think he knew it was wrong.”

Clancy: "Do you think he knew you had him?" 

Kaminski: “Oh, absolutely.”

According to state documents obtained by KIRO 7 Consumer Investigators, when Best Autos eventually sold the Yukon in October, the dealership listed the mileage at just over 81,000 miles.

The State Department of Licensing says even a simple online check reveals there's no way that could be true.

“The mileage that Carfax indicates, which was the last time it was reported to them, was 93,000 miles back in 2007,” said Brad Benfield with the Department of Licensing.

Clancy:  "And so this document that Best Autos provided to the State of Washington clearly shows 81,000.  Just by looking at this, does this appear to be fraudulent?"

Benfield: “It would point to all this evidence of an odometer rollback.”

Clancy:  "Based on the information we've brought in, is this enough for the state to investigate?"

Benfield: “Well, absolutely.”

We took the same documentation to Best Autos.

Clancy:  "I'm wondering if we could have a few minutes of your time to talk about the discrepancy in this odometer disclosure you submitted to the State of Washington."

Nyukeyev:  “Ma’am, I have no comments right now.”

Despite repeated attempts, Nyukeyev would not comment.

Clancy: "OK, we are preparing a story."

Nyukeyev: “I have no comments.”

But Kaminski, who started this whole investigation, has plenty to say. 

Clancy: "What's your fear about the other cars that might be on that lot right now?"

Kaminski: “Oh, I can’t trust any of them.  No one can.”

And that’s what the state wants to know.  Could there be cars on that lot with rolled-back odometers? 

If the state investigation confirms it, Best Autos could be fined $1,000 per incident.  Its business license could also be suspended or revoked.

But that’s not all.

Documents also reveal that Best Autos was recently fined $500 for not disclosing a rebuild.

If you bought the Yukon in this story, email Amy Clancy.