Suwanee Man Sentenced for RICO Violations in Car Scam Targeting Recovery Addicts

On Friday, December 6, 2024, Aaron Edmond Hayes, a 54-year-old Suwanee man, pled guilty to maintaining an illegal enterprise under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Hayes was accused of deceiving individuals recovering from drug addiction by promising them cars for a fee, but failing to deliver the vehicles.

Hayes, who marketed his business, Wheels N Recovery, as a service to sell used cars to those in recovery, collected a total of $76,827.87 from 22 victims. Despite receiving payments, he never provided the cars as promised. Many of the victims were residents of Suwanee.

Hayes was sentenced to one year in prison, followed by two years in work release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims for the full amount of the funds he took.

“This is a good resolution that gives the people back the money that this defendant took,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “He took advantage of people who were vulnerable, and this order holds him fully accountable.”

Hayes was arrested in December 2023 by Suwanee Police, and the case was indicted by Gwinnett County Chief Assistant District Attorney John Melvin, with significant assistance from Suwanee Police Detective Alex Losquadro in the investigation.