Owner Scott Zankl Speaks Exclusively To BocaNewsNow.com, Says There Is “Nothing Criminal.”
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
3:10 PM FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2022: (THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THIS STORY WITH A LAWSUIT JUST FILED BY THE ”LANDLORD.” ACCESS HERE).
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — In a wild story spreading across Delray Beach and Boca Raton, the owner of Excell Automotive — a high-end luxury and exotic car dealership at 1001 Clint Moore Road in Boca — was arrested in a massive federal raid and is being held in an undisclosed federal facility.
It’s a great story. And completely untrue.
“There was not any raid. No federal agents,” said Excell Automotive owner Scott Zankl in an exclusive interview with BocaNewsNow.com late Thursday night. “This is not a criminal thing. It’s a dispute between me and my landlord. He Illegally took possession of inventory in the middle of the night.”
The rumors started on Monday when the high-end cars normally on display in the Boca Raton dealership vanished. The empty dealership shocked those who drive by, stare, and dream of owning the vehicles. Then customers in the midst of deals believed their cars — and funds — were gone.
“The landlord took millions of dollars worth of cars,” said Zankl. “This will be resolved. People do not need to be worried.”
At least one customer reaching out to BocaNewsNow.com, however, said he is worried. Very worried.
“Excell took possession of my car and was supposed to pay it off, but didn’t,” said a customer who fears he was victimized. “I’m now paying the note and someone else has my car. It seems to be a Ponzi scheme.”
“My lawyers are all over this,” said Zankl. “Everything will be under control by the end of next week.”
Multiple sources told BocaNewsNow.com that Zankl’s home in a gated Delray Beach community was raided by federal agents earlier in the week and that he was taken into custody.
“It’s just not true,” said Zankl. “If my house got raided, there would be photos and video everywhere. It didn’t happen. There is nothing criminal here. If I were in a federal holding cell, I wouldn’t be talking to you on my cell phone.”
BocaNewsNow.com spoke with multiple federal and state agencies on Wednesday. Seeming to confirm Zankl’s comments, none acknowledged involvement in any criminal proceeding involving Zankl or Excell Automotive. There is no record of a criminal proceeding in the federal court filing system. Alleged victims say that the Boca Raton Police Department has opened its own investigation, but the Department could not confirm an investigation Thursday night.
The Excell Auto Group website, and a website for “Karma of Broward” which is part of the Excell Auto Group operation, were both showing “under construction” messages early Friday morning.
