Markenzy Lapointe U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida
A federal judge has sentenced Erik Hadad, a 59-year-old former car dealer, to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing follows Hadad's conviction for carjacking a customer from his own dealership.
In October 2023, Hadad's business, Guru Auto Sales, sold a salvaged 2020 Honda Accord to a 24-year-old Haitian legal immigrant. The sale required the buyer to pay $30,000 over five years at an annual interest rate of 24.22%. Guru Auto then sold the loan to a finance company for about $13,800. However, if the buyer was late on either of the first two payments, the finance company could demand repayment from Guru Auto.
When the victim missed his first payment, the finance company invoked this clause and demanded roughly $13,000 back from Guru Auto. It also informed Guru Auto that it had no legal claim over the vehicle until repayment was made.
On December 19, 2023, after receiving this demand and despite the victim catching up on payments, Hadad confronted him. He followed the victim in a BMW as he drove to work at Miami International Airport. At one point during their drive when stopped at a red light and later at a train station parking lot, Hadad approached with aggressive demands for keys while displaying a loaded pistol. The victim complied and subsequently contacted police who arrested Hadad on-site.
The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge K. Michael Moore.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of ATF’s Miami Field Division announced these developments.
The case was investigated by ATF Miami with assistance from Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Keller and Brianna Coakley.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities they serve.
Further details can be accessed via court documents available online under case number 24-cr-20220.
