Beth McCann

District Attorney

Second Judical District

370 17th Street, Suite 5300,
Denver, CO 80202

720-913-2000
Beth.McCann@denverda.org

News Release

August 20, 2018 Contact: Ken Lane, 720-913-9025

Two Indicted for Vehicle Hail Damage Repair Thefts (Smith, Lopez)

NEWS RELEASE

August 20, 2018

Contact: Ken Lane, 720-913-9025

 

TWO INDICTED IN ALLEGED HAIL DAMAGE REPAIR THEFTS

 

A Denver Grand Jury has indicted two people for the alleged theft of almost $200,000 in connection with a hail-damaged vehicle repair business.

 

Anthony Lopez (dob: 01-04-1984) and Alisha Smith (dob: 05-30-1984) were each variously charged in the August 8, 2018, 29-count indictment with conspiracy to commit theft (F4) and theft (F5, F6).  Smith turned herself in to Denver police on August 9.

 

The indictment alleges that from May to August 2017, following a devastating May 8, 2017, hail storm that hit the Denver metro area, representatives of a company owned by Smith called Elevation Performance LLC began soliciting vehicle hail damage customers. Within the three-month period, Smith received and deposited more than $330,000 in insurance company checks and checks and cash from customers for the repair of approximately 50 vehicles.  Some of the vehicle owners received their vehicles back in satisfactory condition, while others got their vehicles back in varying degrees of condition.  However, the indictment alleges that for at least 27 owners their vehicles sustained additional damage while in the care and custody of Lopez and Smith and they received no value for the money paid for vehicle repairs, for losses of approximately $200,000.  Smith and Lopez are accused of using customers’ repair funds for their own personal benefit, to pay personal expenses, to buy at least two motor vehicles, to pay “wages” and “commissions” to friends and relatives, and to fund parties and other entertainments.  Shortly after a confrontation between Smith and Lopez in early August 2017, Smith closed Elevation’s office, dissolved the LLC, and customers’ vehicles were abandoned in various states of disrepair on the Elevation lot or parked on nearby streets.

 

The indictment further alleges that a victim paid Lopez over $8,100 to repair and customize her vehicle following a 2016 traffic accident, but the vehicle was not repaired and sustained additional damage.

 

Smith is scheduled to appear on September 7 at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 4H for 2nd advisement.

 

Lopez remains at large. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Anthony Lopez is urged to call their local police or sheriff’s department or 911.

-30-

The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     See Colo. RPC 3.6