Suspect In Odometer Tampering Surrenders, Booked At County Jail

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer-

The Warsaw man accused of odometer fraud and other charges turned himself in to police Thursday morning.

Chad Allan Gottschalk, 38, of 2028 Maple Run, Warsaw, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 11:30 a.m. Thursday on one count of felony theft and four counts of forgery. His bond was set at $40,000.

Gottschalk's wife, Karen Gottschalk, 37, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail Wednesday at 1:14 p.m. on two counts of check forgery. Her bond was set at $20,000.

Chad Gottschalk may face up to 15 counts of forgery (Class C felony), four counts of theft (Class D felony) and four counts of odometer altering/odometer fraud (Class D felony).

The Gottschalks allegedly purchased luxury vehicles with high mileage then turned back the odometers or replaced the odometers with one purchased on the Internet or in a junkyard.

Once the odometers were altered or replaced, the vehicles were sold for nearly 100 percent profit.

Police also suspect the Gottschalks of "washing" vehicle titles by using chemicals to erase ink from them and making fraudulent bills of sale to the Bureau of Motor vehicles with lower purchase prices to lower sales tax paid.

Chad Gottschalk reportedly purchased the vehicles on eBay, then replaced or altered the odometers and sold them for a large profit. [[In-content Ad]]

The Warsaw man accused of odometer fraud and other charges turned himself in to police Thursday morning.

Chad Allan Gottschalk, 38, of 2028 Maple Run, Warsaw, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 11:30 a.m. Thursday on one count of felony theft and four counts of forgery. His bond was set at $40,000.

Gottschalk's wife, Karen Gottschalk, 37, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail Wednesday at 1:14 p.m. on two counts of check forgery. Her bond was set at $20,000.

Chad Gottschalk may face up to 15 counts of forgery (Class C felony), four counts of theft (Class D felony) and four counts of odometer altering/odometer fraud (Class D felony).

The Gottschalks allegedly purchased luxury vehicles with high mileage then turned back the odometers or replaced the odometers with one purchased on the Internet or in a junkyard.

Once the odometers were altered or replaced, the vehicles were sold for nearly 100 percent profit.

Police also suspect the Gottschalks of "washing" vehicle titles by using chemicals to erase ink from them and making fraudulent bills of sale to the Bureau of Motor vehicles with lower purchase prices to lower sales tax paid.

Chad Gottschalk reportedly purchased the vehicles on eBay, then replaced or altered the odometers and sold them for a large profit. [[In-content Ad]]

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