SAUGUS — The town revoked the auto dealer license issued to Route 1 Auto Sales after learning that it was being used illegally by an unknown party.
Ed Brown, the owner of Route 1 Auto Sales, died last summer, according to a letter obtained by The Item from Massachusetts State Trooper Robert Johnson. Since his death, the license has been held by his wife, Beverly.
The building and the property are both empty and the business no longer exists, yet Johnson said he has seen titles and sales documents indicating that the business has fraudulently purchased vehicles at auction from other dealers as recently as March. The person, or people, purchasing and selling the vehicles is using a stamp purporting to be the owner of Route 1 Auto Sales. Johnson sent copies of the documents to the town.
“On May 14, I made a check of the business at 961 Broadway,” said Saugus Police Lt. Arthur Connors. “I found the business to be vacant and a telephone call to the business went through to voicemail.”
There were no vehicles on the lot for sale, said Connors.
On the same day, Connors spoke with Johnson, who told him that the license had been sold without the approval of the town.
Selectmen asked police to look into the issue at a meeting on May 9. Board members didn’t feel comfortable revoking the Class II Auto Dealers license without a witness from the business or a recommendation from police. No one from Route 1 Auto Sales appeared during either hearing.
They voted 4-0 to revoke the license from the dealer for “violating the conditions of the license by not notifying the town that they closed their business” this week.
