SAN DIEGO — A father and son who were arrested during a multi-agency raid on their luxury used car lot were charged with money laundering and other crimes Thursday in federal court.

Amir Bahador owns Autohaus San Diego on Mission Gorge Road. Amir’s son, Roman Bahador, owns European Collections, a dealership at the same location. A task force comprising the FBI, IRS, DEA and local police departments served search warrants Wednesday at the dealerships and at the Del Cerro homes of the two men.

Prosecutors say the men were involved in a scheme involving the sale of luxury vehicles for illegal drug money. They are also accused of structuring a series of bank deposits in amounts less than $10,000 to try and avoid having the deposits reported to the IRS.

If convicted of all charges, the Bahadors could each be sentenced to 20 year in prison.

Both men were ordered held without bail.  A bail review hearing was scheduled for Dec. 20.

SAN DIEGO – A team of federal and local agents Wednesday raided a Grantville car dealership and two Del Cerro homes believed to be owned a son and father.

Investigators with the FBI, Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies served search warrants Wednesday morning at Autohaus San Diego on Mission Gorge Road and at residences on nearby Madra Avenue and Park Ridge Boulevard.

At least one man was reportedly arrested as part of the multi-agency law enforcement operation, but officials remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the raids.

San Diego resident Musad Ghulam said Roman Bahador lived at the Madra Avenue home and owned Autohaus San Diego.  Ghulam said he’s known Bahador for about five years and for the most part he kept to himself.

“He seemed like a good, legitimate person. I believe he comes from a good family,” Ghulam said. “One thing people know about Roman is that he’s pretty well off.”

He ran the business with his father Amir Bahador, who was listed as the homeowner at the Park Ridge home, Ghulam said.

Another car dealer in the area, who did not want to be identified, told FOX5 Bahador had tax problems.  Public records revealed numerous consumer complaints against Bahador, with one case involving fraud.

“Amir raised Roman in the car business,” said Jeff Wagner, who has known the Bahador family for 20 years.  He said Amir Bahador is a man with a big heart who would do anything for his employees.

“He has rooms over there.  He helps the people that wash his cars, so he gave them a place to stay.  I don’t know if they’re illegals or not,” said Wagner. “He’s a genuine person. He will help people. He is a very giving person, and I think perhaps financial problems caused this.”

Wagner said he wondered if that’s what has the Bahadors in trouble.

Felicia McCain, a public information officer for the IRS, confirmed that the agency was involved in a “law enforcement operation” but referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Debra Hartman, spokeswoman for the latter agency, would not release any details about the case, including the locations of the raids.

“I am sorry, but we have no comment at this time,” Hartman said early Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesman for the FBI did not respond to a request for comment.

 

SAN DIEGO — A task force made up of federal agents, police and deputies raided a luxury used car dealer in the Grantville area Wednesday morning.

Agents simultaneously raided at least two residences in the Del Cerro area — one in the 6700 block of Park Ridge Boulevard and another on Madras Avenue.  Officials would not say whether those raids were related to the raid at the dealership.

Police cordoned off the dealership located at 6045 Mission Gorge before 8 a.m. Squad cars from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego Police Department and the El Cajon Police Department were parked at the lot.

Federal agents, Border Patrol agents  and at least one member of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division were seen at the dealership, prompting speculation that the investigation could involve tax fraud or money laundering.

Law enforcement sources said the operation is under the direction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, but they would not say why the business was being raided.

Felicia McCain, a public information officer for the IRS, confirmed that the agency was involved in a “law enforcement operation” but referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Debra Hartman also confirmed that an operation was under way but would not release any details about the case, including the locations of the raids.

“I am sorry, but we have no comment at this time,” Hartman said.

A spokesman for the FBI did not respond to a request for comment.