SEARCH WARRANTS SERVED ON BUSINESS FOR ILLEGAL TOWING
CONSUMERS BEWARE

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, February 22, 2008: Investigators from the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, the Palm Springs Police Department, and the Regional Auto Theft Interdiction Detail ( R.A.I.D.) executed search warrants today at a number of locations in the Coachella Valley.

The operation stems from an investigation into the organized crime activities of Desert Automotive and their owners, the Slater Brothers. The company has engaged in auto theft for the past three years under the guise of a legitimate towing company. The Slaters would make arrangements with property managers throughout the Coachella Valley and then tow tenant's vehicles outside the authority of current towing laws. They would then extort money from the vehicle owners by holding their vehicles hostage while charging exorbitant fees. The Slaters would primarily target Spanish speaking and elderly victims who were unlikely to contact police out of fear or embarrassment. Further investigation reveals there could potentially be thousands more victims.

The Slater Brothers could be charged with auto theft and conspiracy to commit auto theft. Those charges are punishable by a fine of $5,000 and up to three years in state prison.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the allied law enforcement agencies of R.A.I.D. are conducting this search warrant operation in an effort to curtail and prevent the spread of consumer fraud by towing companies in Riverside County.

Authorities are asking that anyone with information about this crime contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance.