Portland man faces felony charges in towing scam Ryan Joynt allegedly took vehicles, legally parked or not, and demanded high return fees
Felony case - Set Towing's owner allegedly towed vehicles, legally parked or not, and charged stiff return fees
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
AIMEE GREEN
The Oregonian Staff
Marshall Rigsbee suspected something wasn't right when his car was towed from the Chevys restaurant parking lot in Clackamas Promenade last month, even though he was certain it was legally parked.
He called Set Towing and found himself talking to Ryan Patrick Joynt.
"He told me there was a misunderstanding," Rigsbee said, "and that I could have my car back for a $100 tip."
But when Rigsbee arrived at Southeast 166th Avenue and Foster Road to retrieve his 1987 BMW, Joynt wanted more than $300. Rigsbee said he found his car parked with a half-dozen others, sharing a muddy field with two miniature horses and a barn.
"I'm just looking around and thinking, 'This isn't legitimate,' " Rigsbee said. But he forked over the cash anyway, because he needed his car to get to his two jobs.
Portland police say they suspect Rigsbee is one of many victims of a towing scam that has operated for at least two years in the metro area. At a time when tow companies are increasingly under scrutiny because of alleged predatory practices, police and prosecutors say the operation run by Joynt and his former girlfriend, Anna Elizabeth Alonzo, is a class apart.
Joynt, 27, started the tow company in 2007 with cash from Alonzo, 22. Police allege that Set Towing has towed cars it had no permission to take and tried to extort sky-high retrieval fees -- as much as $3,500. If callers refused to pay, authorities say, Joynt threatened to keep the car.
Joynt is charged with 17 felony counts, including trafficking in stolen vehicles and forgery, and is scheduled for trials next month in Multnomah and Washington counties. Alonzo also is facing 11 similar felony counts, and police say the young woman, a pharmacy student, is jeopardizing her future career if found guilty at trial next month.
Authorities say more charges are likely because Joynt continues to tow vehicles as he awaits trial.
"It's like a sweater that keeps on unraveling," said Portland Police Officer John Edwards, who said he's been fielding a steady stream of calls from three counties about Joynt and Set Towing. Although Joynt has been charged with illegally towing away four cars, police say there may be dozens more victims who haven't come forward.
The charges come at a tumultuous time in the towing industry, with state lawmakers pondering a ban on tow trucks that patrol private lots on contract.
Portland police say Set Towing differs from legitimate tow companies because Joynt would sometimes tow cars from private lots without a contract or he would
exceed the terms of the contract.
For example, prosecutors said Set Towing had a contract with the Old Spaghetti Factory in Clackamas, but Joynt towed Rigbee's car from the lot next door. Police say Joynt was an opportunist who would cruise around lots looking for prospects.
"He'd rip off the most expensive rides," Edwards said.
What's more, according to court papers, Joynt has been driving without insurance. Set Towing also doesn't have a license to impound cars from private property within Portland.
"There's nothing legit about them," Edwards said.
Joynt has hired one of the premier defense attorneys in Portland, Des Connall. Connall declined to comment on the case.
According to court papers filed by the prosecution, Alonzo's sister told Tualatin police that Joynt has called and text messaged her several times in recent weeks demanding cash. She said he's threatened to tow her car if she didn't give him money.
Alonzo's current boyfriend also told police that Joynt has threatened to tow his car if his girlfriend didn't give Joynt $650.
Bail hearing
At a bail hearing Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, prosecutor Charles Mickley asked Multnomah County Judge Henry Kantor to increase Joynt's bail from $25,000 to $200,000, saying Joynt is still criminally active. Joynt's attorney, Connall, said his client had contracts to tow from private lots, and said that police are on a "mission" to get Joynt.
Kantor increased Joynt's bail to $35,000, and Connall said his client would pay the additional amount and remain out of jail pending trial.
Kantor, however, offered a stern warning. As a condition of Joynt's release, Kantor told him he won't be allowed to tow any more cars or work out deals for payment with people who've had their cars towed.
"You are done interacting with the public," the judge said. "You're not going to go out and pick up cars. You're not going to talk to them on the phone. . . . Because I don't think you have a firm grasp of where that line is."
Aimee Green:503-294-5119; aimeegreen@news.oregonian.com
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