Israeli Mover Pleads Guilty to Fraud

An Israeli citizen who operated a moving company in Pembroke Park, Fla., pleaded guilty Aug. 25 to several charges, including mail fraud, conspiracy and hiring illegal immigrants.

Yaron Tishby, president of All American Van Lines, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he also faced charges of wire fraud and violating federal transportation laws. He was taken into custody in March after an investigation by Department of Transportation, with the help of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Immigration and Naturalization Service and FBI.

Tishby faces up to 17 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count, except the immigration charge that carries a fine of up to $3,000 for the 10 to 12 who he had working at the now-defunct company.

Investigators said that Tishby’s employees offered artificially low estimates to customers, failed to disclose charges for packing and other moving-related services, and were discouraged from providing customers with written documentation. They also alleged that the moving company targeted wealthy, single and elderly female customers.

All American Van Lines crews would show customers paperwork that lacked a binding estimate and rush them through it. After loading all or most of a customer’s goods on a truck, they would then demand full payment in cash, authorities said.

The goods of customers who refused to pay the inflated bills would be placed in storage by Tishby’s firm, where the items were not adequately protected from damage and were subject to theft or used by company employees.

Customers were not informed of a regulation allowing them to get their property if they paid 110% of the original binding estimate. Also, requests for refunds were routinely denied, investigators found.