- James Allan Sorensen, 41, faces charges for allegedly buying a Range Rover fraudulently.
- He allegedly used a fake diplomatic license plate on the Range Rover.
- Police arrested Sorensen and impounded both the Range Rover and his Ford Fusion.
SANDY — A Sandy man is accused of purchasing a Range Rover with a check that bounced and then putting a fake diplomatic license plate on it.
James Allan Sorensen, 41, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with theft of a motor vehicle, issuing a bad check and forgery, second-degree felonies; having a false title or registration and possession of a forgery device, third-degree felonies; driving on a suspended license, a class C misdemeanor; and an infraction.
On Aug. 11, Sandy police were called to the Larry H. Miller Dealership located at 10905 S. Automall Drive. Investigators were told Sorensen "purchased a Range Rover Sport using a $60,710 IRS check," according to charging documents. The dealership hangs onto the title of the vehicle until the payment clears, but soon learned that the check Sorensen gave them was fraudulent, the charges state.
"When the dealership contacted Sorensen to meet at the bank with the vehicle, he refused," according to the charges.
Police were also told Sorensen allegedly put a fake license plate on his new stolen vehicle.
"Sorensen arrived at the Larry H. Miller dealership in a Ford Fusion, purchased a Range Rover, and requested the dealer place a diplomat plate on it, which they declined. The U.S. State Department confirmed the plate was not authentic, and no ambassadors were assigned to Utah," the charges state.
"Diplomat" license plates are special license plates issued to vehicles used by accredited diplomats that help law enforcers identify vehicles belonging to people with diplomatic immunity. Detectives learned that Sorensen had allegedly used the fake diplomat license plate on his Fusion and the Range Rover. Police "reviewed Department of State materials and confirmed the plate seen on both vehicles in license plate reader images was fake but displayed in a way to imply diplomatic status," according to the charges.
Police then held surveillance on Sorensen's residence and pulled him over in his stolen Range Rover after he left his home. When asked for identification, Sorensen "presented an ID labeled 'American State Citizen' and 'The United States of America Unincorporated.' The card displayed Sorensen's full name, date of birth, photo, and an address, and listed 'Issuing Authority: The Utah Assembly.' The back featured the Great Seal of the United States, suggesting it was intended to appear as an official U.S. or Utah government-issued ID," the charges state.
Officers placed Sorensen under arrest and impounded the Range Rover and also impounded the Fusion "due to a revoked registration and the use of a fictitious plate."
