Ottawa used car dealer admits fraud

The former president of a used car company who was involved in a high-profile, high-speed chase in Ottawa in September, pleaded guilty to fraud in a Kingston, Ont.,court Friday.

Ryan O'Connor entered guilty pleas on two counts of fraud over $5,000.

O'Connor was originally charged with 11 counts of fraud over $5,000, forging documents and global fraud over $5,000 after hundreds of customers complained about his used car dealership, Find-A-Car.

The complainants alleged they faced financial ruin after signing car loans with the company, which had businessesin Ottawa, Kingston, Richmond, Trenton, North Bay and Montreal.

The RCMP launched a commercial investigation intoFind-A-Car back in 2006. The police alleged that the company fudged bank loan applications, inflating the salaries of customers to secure loans where they otherwise wouldn't qualify.

O'Connor will not be sentenced until later in November, but he'sunlikely to serve time in jail. The Crown and O'Connor's defence lawyeragreed to recommend aconditional sentence of two years less a day, the first six months of which O'Connor wouldserve under house arrest.

Hewouldalso perform community service at theBoys and Girls Club of Ottawa.

High-speed chase

O'Connor received national attention back in September, when he and Matt Spezza the brother of Ottawa Senators player Jason Spezza engaged in a high-speed chase in O'Connor's Porsche to help nab an alleged attacker.

O'Connor and Spezza called 911 after encountering a woman near Fallowfield Road who told thema man had attacked her.

Theysped after the man, following him along the city's back roads at speeds up to 170 km/hwhile talking to a 911 dispatcher.

Police caught up with the chase on Highway 416 and have charged a man from Brockville in the incident.

News of the chase prompted Ottawa police to review911 dispatching policies and order dispatchers not to encourage members of the public to follow or chase people they suspect have committed a crime.