By Penne Usher Journal Correspondent
While former Dodge dealer Larry Carmean remains behind bars in El Dorado County, his former associate is out on bail. Carmean, 61, who operated Carmean Dodge in Shingle Springs and El Dorado Hills Dodge until late 2008 is being held on $5 million bail. He’s been charged with several felonies including money laundering. He was arrested Jan. 26 in Orangevale.
Carmean’s Sacramento attorney, Richard Dudek, did not return calls for comment as of press time Friday.
Former Carmean Dodge General Manager John Catalano, 38, was arrested in Folsom. Both have been charged with multiple counts of grand theft and embezzlement resulting in losses of up to $1.3 million to several customers of the dealership and various financial institutions, according to investigators.
Catalano had been held on $2 million bail. It was reduced to $130,000, according to prosecutor Richard Jones with the El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney’s Office. No reason for the reduced bail was given.
Don Heller, Catalano’s Sacramento attorney, said his client is completely innocent of all charges and has “been through the ringer.”
“My client is not responsible and has no prior record,” Heller said Thursday. “He’s one of those rare clients who is completely innocent of the charges.”
He said that his client did not participate in a single fraudulent act.
