A Las Vegas auto repair shop owner is facing criminal charges after Nevada DMV investigators say he used forged documents to unlawfully seize and sell a customer’s BMW through the state’s lien sale process.
According to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles Compliance Division, the case began in August when the vehicle’s owner left his BMW at Star Auto Care for service. Several months later, the owner learned the car had been legally seized and sold after the shop claimed unpaid repair costs through a lien sale filed with the DMV.
Investigators said the vehicle owner was first alerted when his finance company contacted him about a pending lien sale. The repair shop allegedly claimed the customer failed to pay for an engine replacement. However, during the investigation, the customer told DMV officials he never authorized an engine replacement and was unaware of any such work being performed.
DMV investigators reviewed the lien sale paperwork submitted by the shop and later located the BMW. Upon inspection, investigators determined the engine had not been replaced and did not require replacement. Officials said this contradicted the documentation used to justify the lien sale.
Authorities allege the shop owner, Khaldoun Ezam, completed the lien sale and then transferred the vehicle’s title to his brother. The title was later sold again, this time to Ezam’s wife. DMV officials said the sequence of transfers raised further concerns during the investigation.
Under Nevada law, repair shops and towing companies are permitted to apply for ownership of a vehicle through a lien sale if a customer fails to pay legitimate repair costs. Investigators said that process was abused in this case through false claims and forged documents.
Ezam was arrested and now faces charges including forgery and theft. DMV officials said lien sale fraud is more common than many consumers realize and often goes undetected without formal complaints.
The BMW has since been recovered and returned to its owner. Court records show Ezam has posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court next month. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
DMV officials said four additional lien sale cases connected to the same repair shop are now under investigation. To reduce the risk of fraud, the DMV advises consumers to use licensed repair shops, monitor repair progress closely, and avoid paying the full cost of repairs upfront. The agency also maintains a public list of licensed repair facilities.
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