The owner of a Pittsburgh-area towing company has been sentenced after an investigation found a pattern of extreme overcharging, including one case in which a driver was billed more than $10,000 for a tow of less than half a mile.
The Charges and Guilty Plea
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, 57-year-old Vincent G. Fannick, owner of Vince’s Towing, pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception, felony insurance fraud, and misdemeanor execution of documents by deception. Prosecutors say Fannick routinely issued inflated invoices for short-distance tows, adding hidden fees and raising prices after the work had already been completed.
How the Scheme Was Uncovered
The investigation began in 2023 after a driver reported that their insurance company had been billed $11,390 for a tow they never requested. As investigators expanded their review, they identified multiple similar cases, with several insurers charged between $9,460 and $13,105 for single short-distance tows. One of the most extreme cases involved a $9,805 charge to tow a vehicle just one-third of a mile.
Sentencing Details
An Allegheny County Court judge ordered Fannick to pay $379,279 in restitution within 30 days to avoid jail time. His sentence includes five years of probation, with the first six months served under house arrest, along with a permanent ban from working in the towing industry.
Officials Respond
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the scheme took advantage of stranded motorists and their insurance providers, stating that Fannick “preyed on motorists in a pinch by hiding fees and inflating prices, leaving them and their insurance carriers with enormous bills.” As part of his sentence, Fannick is also required to appear in a public service announcement for the Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority addressing predatory towing practices.