Gwinnett County mechanic convicted in car sales scheme targeting recovering drug addicts

GWINNETT CPUNTY, GA – A mechanic is behind bars after scamming drug addicts on the mend through a company he set up called Wheels N Recovery.

Aaron Edmond Hayes, 54, pled guilty to violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act for deceiving 22 people into giving him a total of $76,827.87 for cars that he never delivered to them. Hayes was ordered to serve one year in prison, followed by two years in a work release program. He also was ordered to pay restitution for the full amount of money he took from the victims.

“This is a good resolution that gives the people back the money that this defendant took,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin Gatson. “He took advantage of people who were vulnerable, and this order holds him fully accountable.”

In his marketing, Hayes purported his company, Wheels N Recovery, to sell used vehicles to individuals who were in recovery from drug addiction. However, he did not deliver the vehicles for which he was paid. 

Gwinnett County Chief Assistant District Attorney John Melvin indicted the case and negotiated the plea agreement. Suwanee Police Department Detective Alex Losquadro was instrumental in investigating the case.