Afzal '˜Bobby' Khan features on US TV appeal over Â£1m car scam

Afzal Khan is on the FBI's Most Wanted list. Picture: contributed

Afzal “Bobby” 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 34-year-old fear he may have fled to Pakistan and have offered a $20,000 (£15,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.

Now his case has been featured on an episode of American Greed, which exposes the country’s most wanted white-collar criminals.

The show, broadcast on US network CNBC, featured interviews with Khan’s victims and law enforcement officials who are hunting him.

Khan was born in Edinburgh but moved to the US with his parents as a child, settling in New Jersey.

He has appeared on US reality series The Real Housewives of New Jersey and the case against him involves supercars including Lamborghinis, Porsches and Rolls-Royces.

American Greed is CNBC’s longest-running prime time series and has helped the authorities track down a number of fugitives over the years.

Executive producer Chuck Schaeffer said: “Our shows have had success in helping to apprehend fugitives wanted by law enforcement. Our hope is that someone may see the show and provide information that leads to his capture.”

Khan is accused of obtaining loans from a bank for cars he never delivered but for which the purchaser was still responsible. He also allegedly obtained loans for cars that were delivered, but for which he did not have title  documents.

As a result, the purchasers of those cars were liable for the loan, but could not register the vehicles. It is also alleged Khan offered to sell cars for customers, but neither returned the vehicles nor provided money from sales.

Police and the FBI attempted to arrest him at his New Jersey home in October, 2014, but could not locate him.

In February, Khan is believed to have written a letter to US prosecutors pleading his innocence.

The letter contended 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 were false. According to the letter, he was the victim of corrupt law enforcement officials.

It stated that he wanted to let prosecutors know he had information about other crimes that he was willing to share.

In the letter, he said: “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.”

[email protected]