Tow-truck operator pleads no contest to felony charges - San Jose Mercury News

By the Mercury News

Posted: 07/23/2010 05:04:51 PM PDT

Updated: 07/23/2010 05:04:53 PM PDT

The 67-year-old operator of a South County towing service pleaded no contest Friday to 99 felonies in a towing and suing scam he allegedly ran with family members.

The tow truck operator, Vincent Cardinalli Sr., who has spent three years in jail awaiting trial, is expected to be sentenced later this year.

He could face up to 14 years in prison on charges of embezzlement, forgery and perjury.

The Santa Clara County District attorney's office charged that Cardinalli, a San Benito County resident, 

exploited the small claims system to gouge fees and drain the bank accounts of his victims.

Cardinalli ran a company called B & C Towing and Professional Collection Inc. 

His victims claimed that he would tow their cars and then sue them without adequate notice.

A process server for the company, Jeff Horan, had earlier pleaded no contest to six counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy.

— Mercury News