Thomas Wieringa trial about to begin

Ex-Bridgeview exec's trial over importing of sports cars begins


By Michael Higgins
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 9, 2006

A wealthy Oak Brook businessman illegally imported in 2000 a rare, $1 million sports car from England, lying to U.S. customs officials in order to skirt import taxes, a prosecutor told a federal jury on Monday.

Thomas Wieringa, who owned his own racing team, used a ruse to import the 1998 McLaren F1, which features a gold-plated engine and can reach speeds of 240 m.p.h., said Assistant U.S. Atty. James M. Kuhn Sr.

Wieringa falsely claimed a British associate owned the McLaren and another car--a 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena, worth about $126,000--and that the two cars would be in the U.S. temporarily, Kuhn said.

In fact, Wieringa "owned both of those cars while he tried to convince customs that [his associate] owned them," Kuhn told jurors in his opening statement.

Wieringa's trial began Monday before a jury and U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly. Wieringa is charged with illegally importing the McLaren and Ferrari and with trying to ship the McLaren back to England after authorities ordered him not to move the vehicle.

As part of the proposed penalty in the case, prosecutors are seeking to make Wieringa forfeit the cars to the government.

But Wieringa's lawyer, Mark Rotert, argued Monday that Wieringa had not lied to customs officials and that Wieringa's business associate, Paul Cherry, had owned an interest in the car.

"The government in this case has been making mistakes for 6 years now," Rotert said. "Instead of admitting those mistakes ... they have brought this man before you, charged with crimes."

He said Wieringa planned to use the McLaren to promote his racing team, Sigma Autosport in Bridgeview, by offering potential sponsors thrill rides around the track.

"This was never about smuggling," Rotert said.

Cherry also has been charged. His case is pending.

Kuhn and Rotert sparred Monday over Wieringa's motives and what various customs documents would show.

Kuhn said Wieringa knew he couldn't legally own the cars in the U.S. without modifying them to meet U.S. environmental regulations and U.S. Department of Transportation standards.

Wieringa had Cherry bring the cars into the country on special temporary permits, which are designed for foreign citizens who want to bring a vehicle to the U.S. for less than a year, simply to show or display it, Kuhn said.

By 2002, U.S. customs officials realized the two cars had been in the country longer than a year, Kuhn said.

Rotert said Wieringa had tried his best to answer questions on government forms but was tripped up by an ambiguous question that left room for only a "yes" or "no" answer. He said Wieringa also hired a professional customs broker to handle some paperwork, but the broker made "dumb, clumsy mistakes."

Wieringa owned Sigma Autosport from about 2000 until the team went out of business in 2002.

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Hello,

thanks for share. I recieve this information in spam twice, normal ?

Phil

thank you for sahring..amazing news. didn't know about that Trial.

Paul Cherry, the person Wieringa said owned the cars, failed to show up for his trial and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

I fear that this McLaren will be lost to bureaucratic red tape and will end up in the crusher. :shakehead

Many thanks Wieringa :banghead:

and will end up in the crusher. :shakehead

There is NO WAY that can happen. If that day ever comes, I will lose all faith in the US gov't and hope they all get shafted somehow. It'd be awesome to see all of their cars AND HOMES destroyed. I bet McLaren would step in and explain why they shouldn't crush the car and it'll all be resolved. Only one who should be punished is the owner.

If they prosecuters are able to get the cars taken away, than they will be auctioned off most likely. That's what they do with most other siezures.

It is doubtful the car would be crushed. It does need work. It has a cracked windshield and the engine appears to have a possible head gasket problem.

thats funny, there is a way to bring any car over for at least 4 years though you would need a paper from McLaren (with some cash) saying that the car was built for racing. This is how two people I know here in texas got there R34 Skyline's into the states.

I was under the impression race cars only got a temporary visa of something like 6 months. I've heard of people importing skylines through back doors and then the cars getting seized and crushed. I think they are crushed if you can't find someone to buy it overseas or don't have somewhere to put it overseas (Canada doesn't count as overseas)

However, i belive there are certain rules regarding people who aren't citizens of the US that allow them to import cars for a short period of time without getting them federalized. Once again, i think the limit is something like 6 months.

I was under the impression race cars only got a temporary visa of something like 6 months. I've heard of people importing skylines through back doors and then the cars getting seized and crushed. I think they are crushed if you can't find someone to buy it overseas or don't have somewhere to put it overseas (Canada doesn't count as overseas)

However, i belive there are certain rules regarding people who aren't citizens of the US that allow them to import cars for a short period of time without getting them federalized. Once again, i think the limit is something like 6 months.

It may be different for people rather then companies and we may even be talking about two different types of importation. But Signal Auto brought two drift silvea's over and they have been here for at least two years now. Also, they brought over a jap. 350Z and R34 Skyline to send the other two back.

The car can be legalized in the US. Only its importation is in question. My prediction is that Weirenga will plead to lesser charges and will pay a heavy fine. And it seems as if Cherry will be pleading guilty to some charges too, if he keeps skipping his court dates.

The car will be sold off to anyone willing to legalize it or store it abroad and only bring it in to the US legally. I suspect Weirenga will be allowed to keep title and sell the car off to pay off his debts. But the car will be stored under US Gov't lock and key, and they will charge Weirenga hefty monthly storage fees.

Those are my predictions, anyways. Let's see what happens. Sad story.

There is NO WAY that can happen. If that day ever comes, I will lose all faith in the US gov't and hope they all get shafted somehow. It'd be awesome to see all of their cars AND HOMES destroyed. I bet McLaren would step in and explain why they shouldn't crush the car and it'll all be resolved. Only one who should be punished is the owner.


The U.S. Government may be stupid, but they aren't totally void of brains. I'm sure it would be auctioned off, in fact, no doubt. But your comment about McLaren stepping in and offering an explanation is hilarious. McLaren Int., Ron Dennis, Gordon Murray and anyone else with any Mac credentials has absolutely no weight with the U.S. Govt. In fact, I would bet money that most of the federal govt doesn't even know what a McLaren is. Other than if imported it brings in some heafty tax money.

Guys, guys, guys...

It's just a car. :dunno:

>;^)
ER

Wieringa Wins

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0605170173may17,1,6391424.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Oak Brook man acquitted of car import scam


By Michael Higgins
Tribune staff reporter
Published May 17, 2006

A federal jury on Tuesday acquitted an Oak Brook businessman on charges he smuggled a rare, $1 million sports car into the country in 2000 in an effort to avoid import taxes.

Prosecutors said Thomas Wieringa falsely claimed a business associate from England owned the 1998 McLaren F1, which features a gold-plated engine and can reach speeds of 240 m.p.h.

They said that statement was a lie that enabled Wieringa to get the car into the U.S. on a special temporary permit.

But after deliberating for about 4 1/2 hours, the jury sided with defense lawyers, who argued Wieringa told the truth to U.S. customs officials and had not knowingly violated any laws.

Wieringa and his attorney, Mark Rotert, said afterward federal investigators brought the charges without really listening to Wieringa's explanation.

"They shot first and asked questions later," Wieringa said. "That's where they went wrong."

Prosecutors said Wieringa falsely claimed a British associate owned the McLaren and another car--a 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena, worth about $126,000--and that the two cars would be in the U.S. temporarily.

As part of the proposed penalty in the case, prosecutors were seeking to make Wieringa forfeit the cars to the government.

In closing arguments Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Atty. James M. Kuhn Sr. said an import expert told Wieringa about the legal hurdles involved in importing the cars, but that Wieringa ignored him.

"He wanted his cars, and he wanted them now," Kuhn said. "He didn't want to follow the rules."

And while the temporary permit was good for one year, Kuhn said Wieringa "had no intention of sending [the cars] back."

Rotert told jurors that Wieringa wasn't the sole owner of the car and believed what he was doing was legal--a belief Rotert said was re-affirmed when customs officials allowed the McLaren into the U.S.

"This isn't about smuggling," Rotert said.

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>;^)
ER

That's what I thought! :D Glad to see the outcome of this. I can't believe the gov't wanted possesion. I will never understand why there are so many restrictions (EPA, S&D miles limits, etc) on importing cars like the F1 where so few exist, but kit cars (i.e. 427 Cobras) are in higher numbers and roam the streets with little to no regulation.

Woo hoo!!!!

Great news!! :thumbsup:

I can think of at least one person who might not be too pleased to hear this outcome though. :grinno:

So I wonder if Wieringa has plans to sell the car now or if he will keep it and try to get it federalized?

>8^)
ER