Afzal Khan pleads innocence over £1m luxury car scam

A CAPITAL-born businessman who is on the FBI's most wanted list is believed to have written a letter to US prosecutors pleading his innocence.

Afzal Khan. Picture: contributed

The FBI is investigating the letter signed in the name of Afzal Khan, who is on the run over an alleged £1 million luxury car scam.

Khan is accused of conning a string of customers and financial firms at a motor dealership in the US and could face up to 100 years in prison if convicted.

Federal agents hunting the 32-year-old fear he may have fled to Pakistan and have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

But an open letter to US prosecutors purportedly written by Khan has been e-mailed to news outlets in the US.

The letter contends that while Khan did owe some customers money when his New Jersey-based business, Emporio Motors, ran into financial trouble, most of the claims against him are false, and that he was the victim of corrupt law enforcement officials.

It states that he wants to let prosecutors know that he has information about other crimes that he is willing to share in return for being allowed to return to New Jersey, and if charges against his younger brother are dropped.

In the letter, he states: “My name is Afzal ‘Bobby’ Khan and I am the owner of the now defunct Emporio Motor Group in Ramsey, New Jersey.

“I have been indicted on a charge of ‘wire fraud’ and the government claims I owe $1.7m. I categorically deny all of the allegations that have been made against me.

“Emporio Motor Group was the victim of many unfortunate circumstances which led to the financial ruin of the company. Businesses fail all the time but it seems in this case no-one was willing to work towards a civil resolution in the interests of all parties concerned.”

The letter demonstrates details of the case and sources believe it to be genuine.

Khan’s brother, Anil Iqbal, faces charges connected with complaints about bad checks from Emporio Motor Group.

Flamboyant Khan appeared on US reality series The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

The case involves supercars including Lamborghinis, Porsches and Rolls-Royces.

An FBI spokesman said it was aware of the letter and an investigation was ongoing.

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