Billy and Jaszmyne Lyons put $5,000 down on a 2019 gray Tesla valued at $18,200 in March 2025, only to watch it get repossessed again and again — six times in a single year, according to Dallas police. The couple bought the car through 101 Financial, a Dallas dealership that offers in-house financing, meaning it functions as its own lender and holds the title until a buyer pays it off in full.
According to Fox 4, an arrest warrant alleges that dealership owner Rafat Abu Alfilat had the Lyons' Tesla repossessed over a financing-contract violation tied to a lack of insurance. Fox 4 reported that Jaszmyne Lyons had valid insurance and provided documentation. Billy Lyons said the family worked hard and put money down for the car, and after it was taken, the Lyons family ended up spending more money on another vehicle.
A Pattern Police Say Stretches Beyond One Couple
The Lyons' Tesla is not an isolated case, based on the warrant's allegations. A detective wrote that investigators could prove a pattern of Abu Alfilat illegally repossessing vehicles from multiple different complainants, and police valued the alleged vehicle thefts at more than $206,941.75 total. A police affidavit also cited more than 27 repossession complaints against Abu Alfilat at the time it was signed, even as the dealership's license remained active.
Those numbers track with complaints piling up elsewhere. The Better Business Bureau's page for 101 Financial LLC shows 22 complaints in the last three years and four in the past 12 months, and notes the business is not BBB accredited. Jaszmyne Lyons urged people to research the car lot before doing business there.
Felony Warrants, No Charges Filed Yet
Dallas police obtained felony theft and felony aggravated assault warrants against Abu Alfilat in April 2025. The aggravated assault warrant alleges that Abu Alfilat punched a man and swung a hammer at him during an argument over a repossessed car. Despite the warrants, formal charges have not been filed; Dallas police have said that is because so many people were affected, and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office has said the case remains under review for possible prosecution. Fox 4 reported the criminal case had not moved in roughly 18 months.
Dealership Owner Calls It a Civil Dispute
Abu Alfilat declined an on-camera interview but told Fox 4 he believes the disputes are civil matters, not criminal ones. His attorney did not respond to a request for comment. Kendral Pickett, the dealership's regional manager, said customers often get upset about repossessions and argued that the owner is targeted because the lot finances buyers without strict requirements.
101 Financial remains open with an active license, operating near Joe Field Road and Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles said it currently has active cases involving the dealership and can impose civil penalties or other sanctions if violations are substantiated. Under state rules, the agency investigates written complaints filed against licensed vehicle dealers and can pursue enforcement when violations are confirmed, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fox 4 reported on the dealership's repossession practices. The Lyons family had to spend more money on another vehicle after the Tesla was repossessed.
