Should the public be concerned? A scrupulous tow truck company attempted to nab a car at a busy intersection: San Francisco PD asking innocent victims to come forward

City Attorney David Chiu made an announcement regarding the suspension of Auto Towing and various related individuals and businesses. These suspended entities are currently barred from participating in any bidding processes or receiving contracts from the City.

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Many tow truck companies are run by dedicated individuals, but unfortunately, there are some shady operators who tarnish the reputation of the towing industry. Whether it's falsifying signatures or preying on vulnerable individuals, these unethical practices continue to lower the standards of the business.

America recently encountered an unprecedented situation just a few days ago. An extraordinary viral video emerged, depicting a tow truck driver endeavoring to connect and tow a vehicle amidst heavy traffic. It is important to note that this vehicle was not abandoned by its owner; rather, it was being driven by an individual patiently waiting at an intersection for the traffic light to change.

Joanne and her husband are still trying to come to terms with the terrifying incident involving a bright yellow tow truck, prominently displaying the name 'Specialty Towing' in lime green, as captured on video. The truck attempted to seize a silver Toyota sedan, but both vehicles managed to escape before any further harm could be done.

Harry, the driver of the vehicle who chose not to disclose his last name out of concern for potential retaliation, informed The Standard that he and his wife, Joanne, were carrying out errands on Tuesday morning when they observed a yellow Specialty Towing truck attempting to reverse towards their 2017 Toyota Corolla.

"When we did call 911, while we were getting away from the tow truck and going to our local police station, they didn't really believe what we had to say,” Harry said. “I mean, if you just say, like, ‘Hey, a tow truck is right in front of me and trying to claim me while I'm on the street driving,’ no one will believe it, right?

"To be honest, it was like the wrong time, wrong place," he added. "I would not think anything like this could ever happen, especially with a tow truck. Pretty bizarre."

By skillfully maneuvering their car and creating sufficient distance, with the assistance of a vigilant vehicle behind them, Harry successfully navigated around the tow truck and swiftly departed along Montgomery Street.

City Attorney David Chiu made an announcement regarding the suspension of Auto Towing and various related individuals and businesses. These suspended entities are currently barred from participating in any bidding processes or receiving contracts from the City.

City Attorney Chiu had already started the process of debarring Auto Towing due to their illegal activities of towing cars belonging to vulnerable individuals from a private commercial parking lot, restricting the retrieval times of vehicles, and coercing owners to make cash payments. Subsequently, the owners of Auto Towing, Abigail Fuentes and Jose Badillo, have been charged with criminal offenses related to a welfare fraud scheme.

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“Auto Towing intentionally misled and scammed people out of hundreds of dollars by illegally towing cars and making them hard to retrieve,” said City Attorney Chiu. “Now we also know that they took advantage of the public and defrauded our safety net programs. Fuentes and Badillo have demonstrated a clear pattern of predatory behavior designed to enrich themselves at the expense of the most vulnerable among us. Our City has no interest in contracting with exploitative businesses engaged in illegal conduct.”

Abigail Fuentes and Jose Badillo collaborated in managing three towing companies in San Francisco from 2018 to 2023. These companies—Auto Towing, Jose’s Towing, and Specialty Towing and Recovery—achieved a combined gross annual income exceeding $2 million. Fuentes and Badillo also share a personal relationship and have multiple children together.

In October 2023, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office pressed charges against Fuentes and Badillo for various felonies related to an alleged welfare fraud scheme. During her tenure as a Human Services Agency Senior Eligibility Worker, Fuentes allegedly approved Badillo’s welfare application without disclosing their personal relationship.

Moreover, both Fuentes and Badillo purportedly provided false information about their income and assets to unlawfully obtain public benefits. They both received benefits from Medi-Cal, while Fuentes additionally received benefits from CalFresh and CalWORKs.

In August 2023, the City Attorney commenced debarment proceedings against Auto Towing due to the company's violation of numerous state and local laws by unlawfully towing vehicles from private property. Auto Towing employees engaged in the illegal towing of multiple cars from a bank parking lot in the Portola neighborhood between February and May 2023 without the property owner's authorization. It is against the law for a towing company to tow a vehicle from private property without the property owner's consent.

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Furthermore, Auto Towing hindered vehicle owners from retrieving their cars by limiting retrieval hours and pressuring them to make cash payments. According to the California Vehicle Code, vehicle owners are entitled to retrieve their vehicles at any time, 24 hours a day, and can make payments using cash or major credit cards. The victims affected by the unauthorized tows were predominantly Spanish- and Cantonese-speaking residents, who are particularly susceptible to predatory towing practices.

Debarment is a process through which the City can prevent contractors from applying for or receiving City contracts for a period of up to five years. This procedure may involve a lengthy process and may require an administrative hearing before contractors facing allegations of misconduct are officially barred from receiving City funds.

In 2020, San Francisco enacted legislation to enhance its ability to address corrupt contractors promptly. This legislation allows the City to suspend contractors accused of specific crimes that impact their eligibility to receive City funding. The suspension immediately stops these contractors from receiving City funds while the legal proceedings take place.

Following the criminal charges against the owners of Auto Towing, the City Attorney has initiated the suspension process, preventing them from obtaining City contracts or grants until the resolution of the criminal case.

The suspension order filed by the City Attorney on February 2, 2024, applies to the following entities and individuals:

- Auto Towing, LLC

- Abigail Fuentes

- Juan Fuentes, CEO of Auto Towing

- Jose Badillo

- Jose’s Towing, LLC

- Specialty Towing and Recovery, Inc.

In March 2023, Auto Towing bid for a City contract to provide towing services and roadside assistance for City-owned vehicles and SFMTA buses but was not awarded the contract. San Francisco Police is currently investigating and asking victims to make a report.

Have you ever faced a situation like this before? If so, how did you handle it? If you suspect you've been scammed, don't hesitate to report it to the police. Your story could help prevent others from falling victim.

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