ASAP Towing Owner Arrested, Accused of Defrauding the State of Florida Out of More Than $190,000: Arrest Report

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The owner of Tow as quickly as possible turned himself in at the Police Memorial Building on Wednesday and was charged with theft and organized fraud, according to his arrest report.

A JSO investigation revealed that Vicente Serrano, who goes by Vince, “defrauded the State of Florida of approximately $193,958.54 between 2020 and 2024,” according to his arrest report.

ASAP Towing has been surrounded by controversy over the past year over allegations that the company is “preying” on residents.

In July, JSO raided ASAP’s four locations in Jacksonville, issuing arrest warrants in connection with a theft and fraud investigation.

On July 31, a letter from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office obtained by the News4JAX I-TEAM revealed that ASAP Towing was permanently banned from JSO use in January 2024 after a JSO audit found the company had failed to report tens of thousands of dollars as required by state law.

The JSO letter revealed that ASAP failed to timely report $181,000 in overages in 2023.

JSO said in July that it believed people at the towing company withheld evidence in violation of Florida’s theft and fraud statutes.

The JSO investigation appeared to track the money made from unclaimed cars sold by ASAP Towing. When a sale generates more money than it costs to impound the vehicle, this money is supposed to be deposited with the clerk of the court.

The warrant, which was provided to the I-TEAM by ASAP Towing, revealed that JSO sought documents related to vehicle sales, bank statements for all locations or “any tools possessed or used in connection with the illegal activity .”

According to Serrano’s arrest report, JSO detectives noted “discrepancies” and “excessive deductions” during the investigation.

Serrano told News4JAX in July that he had done nothing wrong.

“I have done nothing but be a good steward to the people of Jacksonville. And when we seized cars, I am doing my best fiduciary responsibility to get them back all their money owed,” Serrano said in July.

MORE | The owner of ASAP Towing says JSO’s investigation into possible organized fraud is in retaliation for an ongoing legal dispute

In November 2023, the News4JAX I-TEAM investigated several complaints from residents of a St. Johns County neighborhood who had their cars towed from their driveway by ASAP Towing.

“Everyone is afraid. It’s like the towing company is driving around the neighborhood at night, waiting for cars to be pulled and just watching,” one resident, who did not want to be identified, told News4JAX in 2023.

MORE | Towing company accused of ‘preying’ on St. Johns County residents after cars were towed from driveways

Serrano was booked into the Duval County Jail Wednesday morning and is charged with theft and organized fraud, both first-degree felonies.