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Defenders Northwest, Pierce County Car restorer accused of running interstate scam

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Brian Hall Gig Harbor
Defenders Northwest, Pierce County Car restorer accused of running interstate scam

The auto restoration industry is a global one. Those that specialise in it search for numerous vendors in North America, while others obtain parts from China or Europe. Sadly, there is a lot of Fraudulent Car Restoration Shop Scam complaints in market, and increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies and standard best practises are the only solutions.


Long-running Land Rover Car Restoration Scam often targets collectors and Land Rover enthusiasts as its victims. One such occurrence serves as an example of the necessity for new, improved regulations and consistency of laws. 


Popular Defender forums including landroverforums.com, defendersource.com, nas-row.com, and many more often debate a number of the occurrences. For Defender aficionados, there are several businesses that provide parts and repair services. The Robb Report chose seven of the best Land Rover Defender restoration firms on April 23, 2022. One or two others include Himalaya, ECD Automotive Design, Arkonic Ltd., and Osprey Custom Cars. For good reason, Gig Harbor, Washington-based Defenders Northwest, LLC, run by residents Michele and Brian Hall, is not included on the list. Many Land Rover Defender enthusiasts are unaware of this firm.


They and Defenders Northwest LLC have just been named defendants in a significant case that claims Auto Parts Restoration Fraud, which has shook the Land Rover Defender community. According to the court records submitted, Brian Hall, Michele Hall, and their business, Defenders Northwest, LLC, not only import illegal and grey market Land Rover components but also defraud individuals by taking on restoration projects to steal their cars and money.


The extensive court records carefully outline how two con artists planned a fraudulent plot to defraud their customers out of more than six figures with the aid of some experts. Defenders Northwest advertises its alleged services on its website, www.defenersnorthwest.com, as well as different online forums, car shows, and social media platforms.


The suspected scammers, who had filed for bankruptcy, set up a repair shop in the peaceful tiny town of Gig Harbor, Washington, where they prey on unwary vintage Land Rover Defender lovers. According to the couple's website, the close-knit Land Rover Defender community may get components and restoration services from them. The foreboding complaint is filled with serious civil and criminal charges that the Gig Harbor couple stole the antique Land Rover they were hired to refurbish with the help of their consultant and part-time lawyer. According to reports, Brian Hall and his wife Michele Hall continued to operate the scam for years, issuing false invoices and inventing justifications for why the owners' automobiles could not be delivered.


Then, Brian Hall alleged that COVID-19 delays and unexpected phantom electrical issues caused additional delays after his store was the subject of many break-ins and acts of vandalism. Like previous con artists and masterminds of Ponzi schemes, Halls' demise was inevitable.


According to Brian Hall's LinkedIn page, before he and Michele Hall started their business importing and selling ROW-vintage and legacy Land Rover Defender components, cars, and restoration services, Brian Hall worked as a sales and marketing manager at Black & Decker, Inc. Requests for comment on this article went unanswered from Mr. Hall or his wife.


Without the clients' consent, it is alleged that Defenders Northwest, Brian Hall, and Michele Hall used the projects they were entrusted with to get sponsored components for the renowned SEMA vehicle show in Las Vegas. SEMA is a trade show where automotive specialised equipment manufacturers exhibit alongside automakers to introduce new, cutting-edge products and make connections with global industry customers. When Brian Hall and Michele and their part-time lawyer Shawn Harju finally refused to deliver the vehicle, demanding more money (after admitting there was nothing owed) and a full release points our attorney, Alessandro Assanti, the restoration project was a carefully orchestrated fraud, according to the legal documents we reviewed.


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Brian Hall Gig Harbor
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