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dealer complaints

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by macassini, Sep 27, 2004.

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  1. NickM3

    NickM3 Formula Junior

    Nov 23, 2003
    419
    Full Name:
    Nick Y.
  2. LetsJet

    LetsJet F1 Veteran
    Owner

    May 24, 2004
    9,334
    DC/LA/Paris/Haleiwa
    Full Name:
    Mr.
    Did anyone here get scammed?

    I can't believe how irresponsible the bank employees were not to do due diligence before approving the loans. It's just laziness and con-artists depend on people not doing their job correctly.
     
  3. kiesan

    kiesan Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 21, 2003
    1,454
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Kie Robertson
    Well LetsJet I'm assuming you are a US citizen.... that means you got scammed. Almost everyone here did. We all get to collectively absorb the massive debt he created with his flim-flam although brilliant schemes.



    WARNING! WARNING! Controversial statement to follow~

    I did say "almost" everyone here got scammed. Simply because I have a hard time believing that anyone who considered him a friend, colleague, co-worker, partner, whatever, was "scammed".
     
  4. FerrariWA

    FerrariWA Formula Junior

    Dec 14, 2004
    719
    Seattle/London
    Full Name:
    Thomas Summerfield
    Guys...why cant we all just get along and be friends again....like in the old times.
     
  5. GaryReed

    GaryReed F1 Rookie

    Feb 9, 2002
    3,109
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Gary
    I know a local shop owner who never got paid on about $30K of bills that Cassini ran up for race prep/track support, etc.. on a 360 Challenge car that he bought to race in the Ferrari Challenge series.
     
  6. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
    Bellevue, WA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    Not offering any defense of Cassini here.... -but- what does being a US Citizen have to do with anything ? The victims here are the *banks* which are private corporations. The losses suffered then are borne by the shareholders of the banks, and no one else. Sure, you can argue that this is why rates are so high... but in reality, they're not that much higher than prime .. you can even get less than prime if you're a well-qualified borrower. The shareholders of major banks include US citizens sure, but also people working in the US on visas, and international investors all over the world. If you look at most banks financial disclosures they're all doing pretty well, recording great profits. There will always be bad debts and the rates will always reflect the amount of perceived risk. The important thing is that Cassini is being punished appropriately, and it is this *deterrent* that will keep others from hopefully perpetrating this sort of crime.
     
  7. LetsJet

    LetsJet F1 Veteran
    Owner

    May 24, 2004
    9,334
    DC/LA/Paris/Haleiwa
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    Mr.
    That is only part of the problem I see here............ Cassini should do his time and pay back his debt, but the bank employees that didn't do their work should be fired. That is how to keep people from counting on laziness to perpetrate this sort of crime. It should have been stooped before it started.......... send that * deterrent * as well........
     
  8. Tifoso1

    Tifoso1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
    2,598
    Pacific NW
    Full Name:
    Anthony C.
    Who do you think are paying for the funding to put people like Cassini behind bars and keeping him there? You need to see the bigger picture and not just what is in front of you. The money we spend on fighting crime can easily be put to great uses such as in improving schools, etc.

    The public may not have been hurt directly, but indirectly, we are all paying for his crime. If you read the Sunday papers, you will see that he and the family that supports him has zero remorse as to what he has done. They even tried to justify it. Yes, it is true that the banks should have checked and varified his docuementations, but the reality is, he should have even tried to break the law in the first place.
     
  9. kiesan

    kiesan Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 21, 2003
    1,454
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Kie Robertson


    Well that shows you what I know about finance at this level. I thought banks had some sort of federal "insurance" for cases like this where the government steps in and somehow makes the debt go away. My simplistic view had me thinking we all felt the sting somehow but I guess not, not directly, anyway. Thanks BritBlaster.

    I do know that I went to his auction to buy a 'fridge but I came back with so much more. I was a little disappointed when the paper quoted that his garage space/personal effects went for $1700 when I seem to remember getting a much larger cashier's check. Oh well.

    I wonder if he'll want the desktop model of the $5.6 million dollar Piaggio plane back when he gets out in 7 years.
     
  10. AGSPerformance

    AGSPerformance Karting

    Apr 21, 2004
    96
    Seattle, WA.
    Full Name:
    Tyson J. Spring
    I wonder if he'll want the desktop model of the $5.6 million dollar Piaggio plane back when he gets out in 7 years.[/QUOTE]


    Is that all a Piaggio goes for these days?
    Wow, I gotta get one of those! Anyone have a list of Banks that wrote Cassini's loans?
     
  11. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
    Bellevue, WA
    Full Name:
    Paul
    A criminal is a criminal and there's two choices ... you either let them commit crimes out in the world, or you lock them up. Yes, there's a cost associated with club-fed, but it's less than the cost of granting them freedom and allowing them to commit crimes. When Mr. Cassini is released, he will have the opportunity to pay restitution, and hopefully embark on a crime-free journey where he'll be able to earn a living and pay taxes like the rest of us. That is hopefully the benefit of the deterrent value of the penal system. Over the course of that individual's life will it be a loss, wash or profit ? Who can tell... ? But it is our job as a good and just society to give him every opportunity to be successful. Hopefully he'll take advantage of the system and further his education, reflect upon and recognize his wrongdoings, and be able to make a fresh start. Compared to the damage done to society by child-abusers, rapists and murderers, Mr. Cassini's damage was light and recoupable. Again, I'm not making excuses for his crimes -- just trying to put them in the right perspective. I believe that his punishment is just and fair.
     
  12. Tifoso1

    Tifoso1 F1 Rookie

    Nov 18, 2003
    2,598
    Pacific NW
    Full Name:
    Anthony C.
    As I stated before, have you read the article that was in the Sunday's Times? To this day, he still does not feel that he had done anything wrong and that is troubling. I agree that everyone makes mistakes but not everyone deserves a second chance. Only the people that are willing to accept the responsibility of their own mistakes deserves a second chance. When will the people of this "good and just society" going to realize that we are all ultimately accountable for our own actions. Our society is not suppose to hold your hands or wipe your ass for you whenever you mess up. There are rights and there are privilages, they all have to be earned and not given.

    Mr.Cassini took a short cut and rightfully got nailed for it. He is a full grown, completely capable adult who understands the concepts of right and wrong. He took advantages of the system by breaking the law first and now he is taking advantage of the system and our society by not accepting his own mistakes and responsibility.

    I know people who grew up in the ghettos, and I went to school in Harlem, NYC. I have friends who had childhoods that were just as difficult if not harder than what Mr. Cassini had to endure. I have friends that had to work 2 jobs just so they can go to school and become somebody. Today, they are doctors, engineers or successful individuals within their own career fields. They all had every excuses or reasons to walk a different path, but they didn't. They didn't blame the society, didn't blame their family or God for giving them such hard lifes. They took what life had threw at them and came out on top of it.

    You asked earlier, who did Mr.Cassini really hurt. He was only a con-artist and he didn't really hurt or harm anyone. I beg to differ and IMO, his crime is not any less terrible when compared to a child-abuser, rapist or a murderer. In fact, his crime may have a greater impact than if he had been anyone of the above. For starters, the resources used to catch him, to prosecute him and to jail him can be used to catch a child-abuser, a rapist or a murderer. He may have cause many people to lose their jobs, and those people have their own families and who knows, these ex-bankers can now become alcoholics and beat their kids. wives or worse. And guess what, they can blame Mr.Cassini for it and in turn, blame your "good and just society" for making them into who they are.

    Unlike you, I don't know if his punishment is just or if it is fair. I am not his judge, jury nor am I his excutioner. He does not need to answer to me nor does he owe me an apology. However, he does owe this society and its people an apology. And again, at this point in time, he still feels that he did no wrong. Keep in mind this, as a member of our society, we are all linked to on another, just in a greater or lesser degree. According to the laws of ripple affect, everything we do can have a greater affect or impact. The $2.00 you spend on buying that cup of coffee this morning will exchange several hands and thus in turn pushes our economy forward. My point is, there is nothing small in life, just small minds.
     
  13. gchopra

    gchopra Rookie

    Jul 2, 2006
    1
    las vegas
    Full Name:
    gobinder chopra
    I am from Las vegas and have a 360 modena spider for 2 years,i bought it from Ferrari of Orange county at a hefty premium above the sticker.At the time i brought the car,i also requested my name to put down for f430 spider.I was told that it would be done,now waiting 2 years down the Lane,i still dont know that i would be sold the car at sticker as i am told the car is in high demand,my relationship building,my waiting period and me paying a premium to build relationship have all gone down the toilet,on top of it Ferrari north America would not Intercede? Why i don't know??? anyone else who had this very pleasant experience? how long is the wait anyway if you want to get the car at sticker? any site where i can Lodge my complaint? Gary chopra. [email protected].
     
  14. kiesan

    kiesan Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 21, 2003
    1,454
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Kie Robertson
    Anyone else think this guy is going for a movie/book deal? Back on the street I'm told and evidently up to some of his old tricks...

    _______________________________________________


    During my career as a flight instructor,I met a number of characters. Michael Cassini, FKA Jeffrey Leavitt, was the most colorful...

    It was my fourth year as a flight instructor. I thought I'd seen it all...
    He came into the flight school, claiming he'd learned to fly in Russia, but the local FSDO* wouldn't convert his certificate, so he needed to pass a checkride and get his US certificate. He was assigned to me, and we started working together.
    The standard trainer at that time was the Cessna 172, but he wasn't happy with it. He claimed he'd been flying 182s and Bonanzas* (larger aircraft), and really wanted to fly the 182s which we had available. The problem was that the 182s we had were lease-backs, and the contracts with the owners stipulated they were not to be used as primary trainers.
    On behalf of the client, I went to the boss and made a case for the client to complete his training in the 182s. The boss said that he'd talk to the owners, but he needed some proof of prior experience. We came to a verbal agreement that the client would produce his logbooks showing prior experience before we would let him fly the 182s by himself. (We should have gotten it in writing, but my boss was a bit of a softie, and really hated saying no to a client.)

    We flew together for the next several weeks, and while the client's technical ability was pretty good, his book knowledge was almost non-existant. He claimed his instructors in Russia didn't worry about the theory, only the practice. He knew how to fly, but couldn't tell me any of the laws of aerodynamics or flight. And before a student can fly solo, he must pass a written examination that demonstrates a basic understanding of certain material.

    One day he came in for his scheduled lesson, and the plane he'd reserved was unavailable due to maintenance, and the other 182 was away. I suggested we take up one of the 172s and work on whatever was appropriate, but he declined, stating he'd rather fly the Seminole* light twin just for fun. I stated that I thought it would not be advantageous to his training, but he said he'd flown Barons*, and just wanted to get up in the air. So we took the Seminole up to Friday Harbor for lunch where I quizzed him on the material he needed to know for his solo.

    Unfortunately, he hit an impass when he'd demonstrated sufficient skill and knowledge to fly solo, but hadn't produced his logbooks from Russia...he
    *always had a different story about why they weren't available (he thought they were in his storage locker, he thought they were in his mother's attic, he was too busy this week and forgot...).

    I had a bad feeling at this point, and his lack of documentation gave me a valid excuse to not sign him off. He went to my boss and made his argument that I was stonewalling him, and I counter-argued that he had agreed to provide his logbooks. My boss asked if he'd met the minimum requirements, to which I grudgingly agreed, but that since he hadn't held up his end of the agreement I couldn't in good faith sign him off. The client then proposed that he fly with another instructor, to get a second opinion. I assented, with the stipulation that the other instructor would have to be the one to sign him off.

    My boss backed me, and the client left the school.

    Shortly thereafter I was contacted by a friend in the FAA telling me the client had made a complaint against me, and wanting my side of the story.
    Seems the client had complained that I'd forced him to fly the Seminole against his wishes. He even used the arguments I'd made for not flying it. I told my side of the story, he thanked me, and I didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks until my friend came through the school and told me the complaint had been dismissed and I had nothing to worry about. (I'd known this FAA rep for several years, and he'd actually recommended me for check airman and remedial training instruction. This complaint, in other words, was completely contrary to his personal experience.)

    Not long after that mess, the boss of the company called me in to tell me that the client had filed suit against the company, specifically naming me.
    The claim was that I was not qualified to instruct, and the company was engaging in fraud by marketing me as an instructor. The company's lawyers convinced the client's lawyer (a specialist in speeding tickets, IIRC) that the client not only had no case, but was bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.

    The client made enough of a nuisance that the company issued a restraining order against him, telling him he was not allowed on the property and telling employees to call security if he was seen on the property.

    I left the flight school, and forgot about the client. One day while visiting the flight school, however, my boss told me the saga continued.

    After some time, my friend at the FSDO contacted my boss with a proposition.
    Turns out that the client had gone and bought himself a Bonanza, and needed someone to teach him to fly it. My boss was the local Bonanza specialist, and the FSDO rep was worried that the client would go hurt somebody with his spiffy new (to him) high-performance airplane if the right person didn't rein him in. My boss told the FSDO rep about the restraining order, and was asked if there were any way to accommodate this client in this capacity, as a personal favor...

    So the company began managing the client's aircraft-- hangaring it, maintaining it, keeping the logbooks, and occasionally providing my boss as a personal flight instructor when the client wished to fly himself and his buddies somewhere.

    This lasted until the day my boss received some gentlemen enquiring how they might go about impounding an airplane. "Which airplane?" "This Bonanza. Do you know where it is?" "As a matter of fact, let me show you. Do you want the maintenance logs and documents, too?"

    And thus ended the client's relationship with that company, and a stint in federal prison:

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002815121_bankfraud19m.html


    While discussing the matter, my boss and I conjectured that the client had probably learned to fly a Cessna 182 in Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is why he wanted to fly the school's 182. He had acquired just enough knowledge to bluff his way into a school, but ran into me. Not that I have a particularly sensitive BS detector, but after 3 years of instruction, I was much more interested in not breaking airplanes than I was in pleasing the customer. An accident could have been catastrophic to the company...


    I bring this story up because said client just contacted me asking for copies of certain training records from that time... seems he's out of prison, and attempting to finish his flight training. *sigh* I'm tempted to contact the FAA in his neighborhood and tell them the story...

    =====================

    *FSDO - Flight Standards District Office. Local branch of the Federal Aviation Administration
    C172- Cessna 172 "Skyhawk". 4-seat airplane comparable to a small family car
    C182- Cessna 182 "Skylane". 4-seat airplane, larger version of the 172, comparable to a large family car
    Bonanza- Beechcraft Bonanza. Larger, heavier, faster than 182s. Seated 6, comparable to a luxury sedan
    Seminole- Piper Seminole. 4-seat twin-engine aircraft used for training and often initial multi-engine ownership
    Baron- Beechcraft Baron, basically a twin-engined Bonanza
     
  15. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
    Bellevue, WA
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    Paul
    Interesting story.

    Maybe we'll see macassini post on here again in the near future if his parole officer lets him ;)
     
  16. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
    Bellevue, WA
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    Paul
    Wow, did a little digging. Apparently he's in Philly now, and has been posting pics of himself and his Ferrari 360, Alfa 164S and various planes that I assume he's been taking lessons in. There's also some very stylish pics of him in a full Ferrari race suit. Nice that the banks let him keep at least one Ferrari; one shouldn't have to suffer too much for one small indiscretion, eh?

    check out the pics:
    http://s1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd401/macassini/
     
  17. BritBlaster

    BritBlaster F1 Rookie

    Jul 25, 2005
    2,865
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    Paul
  18. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    Dec 28, 2003
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    Funny that the pics of the 360 remind me of someplace in Seattle for some reason. Oh, maybe it's the same spot that he used to use to take pics when he had his "dealership". Or maybe it's the picture with the space needle in the background!?
     
  19. kiesan

    kiesan Formula 3
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    Nov 21, 2003
    1,454
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    Kie Robertson
    This is why it looks familiar. That car has been for sale at Complete Automotive since the beginning of time it seems. I wonder if it does in fact have anything to do with Jeff-Michael. hmmmm.

    http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/2515768249.html

    http://www.caseattle.com/vehicle/2754850/2004-Ferrari-360-Modena-Berlinetta-F1-Coupe-1-600-Orig-Mile-Seattle-Washington-98109
     
  20. GaryReed

    GaryReed F1 Rookie

    Feb 9, 2002
    3,109
    Seattle
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    Gary
    Dealership? I think you're confusing Cassini with another local jerk who ripped off people by selling consignment cars that he didn't own.

    Here's "Michael's" rap sheet:
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002815121_bankfraud19m.html
     
  21. PDX_214

    PDX_214 Formula Junior

    Apr 25, 2010
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    Portland, OR
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    J
    #121 PDX_214, Jul 29, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  22. kiesan

    kiesan Formula 3
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    Nov 21, 2003
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    Kie Robertson
  23. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    Dec 28, 2003
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  24. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
    Staff Member Admin Miami 2018 Owner

    Dec 1, 2000
    59,407
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    Rob Lay
    FYI got a contact from a Zin Gela [email protected] (Michael Cassini is his client) saying he is going to turn this thread over to US Attorneys Office for slander.
     
  25. Townshend

    Townshend F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 20, 2005
    6,672
    Chicago
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    Walter
    A lawyer with a gmail account..?
     

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