Imagine visiting a reputable local used car dealership. You know the owner – in fact, most of the town does, because he’s also an elected official. As such, you trust that trading in your car at Lowcountry Truck & Auto means your old lien is taken care of, no sweat. Unfortunately, though, some customers recently found that the car lot’s business standards could be quite “low,” indeed.

Olin Lawrence Altman Jr., a car salesman and elected city councilman in Johnsonville, South Carolina, is in hot water. Authorities just charged him with defrauding customers by failing to pay off auto loans on certain trade-ins at his dealership.

Altman, 42, allegedly took payments from customers between March and June 2023, but instead of using those funds to pay off the outstanding loans on trade-in vehicles, he kept the money. This left customers facing potential financial trouble, as their lienholders never received the payments.

Altman was arrested this week and booked into the Florence County Detention Center, WBTW reported. He posted a $25,000 bond the same day and was released. Altman, who began his term as a Johnsonville City Council member in November 2023, holds office until 2027.

Johnsonville Mayor Keith Callicutt acknowledged the situation but refrained from offering any specific comments, stating, “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”

Keeping lien payoff funds could land the car salesman a 10-year prison sentence

When customers trade in vehicles with existing loans, dealerships are required to pay off the loan balance to the lienholder. This step ensures the customer isn’t left responsible for any remaining loan amounts after trading in their vehicle. Failing to pay off lienholders, as Altman allegedly did, creates serious problems for drivers, leaving them liable for debts they thought were settled.

In South Carolina, obtaining money under false pretenses involving $10,000 or more is a felony. If Altman is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. Beyond the potential prison sentence, he may also face restitution requirements, meaning customers could get their money back.

Altman’s position as a city councilman adds complexity to the case. Though the mayor hasn’t made further remarks on his status, Altman’s arrest could trigger additional scrutiny of his role in local government.