The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has removed a longtime employee following a five-year investigation into an illegal car sales scheme involving towed vehicles and a local towing company. Investigators concluded that the worker used insider access to buy cars at steeply discounted prices and then resell them for profit, in some cases making tens of thousands of dollars on a single vehicle. The case has raised fresh concerns about oversight, accountability, and the vulnerability of motorists whose cars are towed and sold under state rules.
How the Illegal Car Sales Scheme Worked
According to investigative records from 2020–2021, the DMV employee, identified as Dominik Stefanski, allegedly developed a quid pro quo arrangement with D&L Auto Body & Towing in Berlin, Connecticut. When D&L staff visited the main DMV office in Wethersfield, they would signal Stefanski, who in turn allegedly allowed them to skip long lines and receive preferential treatment. In exchange, D&L employees reportedly let Stefanski choose from vehicles that had been towed and were eligible to be sold, then undervalued the cars on DMV paperwork so he could purchase them cheaply through an investment company he controlled.
Scope of the Profits and Timeline
DMV investigators found that between 2015 and 2019, D&L sold at least 15 vehicles to Stefanski’s investment firm under suspiciously low valuations. In one documented example, he purchased a Cadillac for about $1,000 and later resold it for roughly $17,500, before it was sold again by a separate dealer for more than $23,000. Although the internal report outlining these findings was completed around 2020–2021, it took nearly five additional years before the agency finalized the employee’s dismissal in late 2025.
Key Facts From the DMV Investigation
| Item |
Details |
| Employee name |
Dominik Stefanski (longtime DMV staffer) |
| Position |
Document examiner at Wethersfield main office |
| Period of alleged scheme |
2015–2019 |
| Towing company involved |
D&L Auto Body & Towing (Berlin, CT) |
| Vehicles sold to Stefanski firm |
15 |
| Notable example |
Cadillac bought for $1,000, resold for $17,500 |
| Internal probe completed |
2020–2021 |
| Termination decision announced |
November 2025 |
Why the Termination Took So Long
The nearly five-year gap between the internal investigation and the firing has drawn criticism from lawmakers and watchdogs who argue it reveals systemic weaknesses in Connecticut’s disciplinary process for public employees. According to reporting based on the termination letter, the DMV cited union grievance procedures and appeals as factors that delayed the final decision, while the employee maintained he had done nothing wrong and sought to keep his job through union-backed challenges. Ultimately, the agency concluded there was no basis to reduce or overturn the proposed dismissal and moved ahead with removing him from his position.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
Although this case focused on internal discipline rather than criminal charges, the conduct described—undervaluing vehicles on official forms, exploiting insider access, and profiting from distressed assets—raises significant ethical and legal red flags. Connecticut law treats falsifying registration or title information and misusing DMV documents as serious offenses, and separate statutes criminalize improper use of plates, registrations, or licenses in vehicle transactions. Beyond specific statutes, public integrity experts highlight that even the appearance of favoritism or personal enrichment can erode trust in agencies that control licensing, registration, and enforcement.
Impact on Towed Vehicle Owners
The scheme also spotlights longstanding concerns about how quickly towed vehicles in Connecticut can be sold, and how much protection owners actually have. Investigations have shown that, in some cases, cars can be auctioned or transferred after as little as 15 days in storage, particularly when owners struggle to pay accumulated towing and storage fees. When vehicles in good condition are undervalued and moved into private hands with inside help, owners effectively lose out on any fair market value, turning an already stressful tow into a permanent financial loss.
DMV and Company Responses
In statements reported by local media, a representative for D&L Auto Body & Towing said the manager who dealt directly with Stefanski was fired and that the company is cooperating with DMV officials to prevent similar abuses. D&L maintained that it believed it was selling inoperable vehicles, although DMV investigators found that many of the cars involved were actually in decent condition and later resold for far higher prices. The DMV, meanwhile, has pledged to tighten oversight of towing transactions, staff conduct, and internal controls around vehicle titles and line-skipping privileges.
What Comes Next for Oversight and Reform
The firing has renewed calls for stronger transparency in towing practices, faster enforcement timelines, and clearer public reporting of disciplinary actions involving state employees. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are likely to push for reforms such as longer notification periods before towed vehicles are sold, tighter valuation rules, and more robust conflict-of-interest checks for DMV personnel who interact with private towing and salvage firms. For motorists, the case serves as a reminder to monitor tow notices carefully, verify where vehicles are stored, and understand their rights before a car is lost permanently to auction or salvage.
