Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles has fired a longtime employee nearly five years after investigators concluded he used his position to buy towed cars cheaply and resell them for large profits in an alleged side‑business scheme. The dismissal came in early November 2025 and followed renewed scrutiny of the case by investigative reporters and lawmakers.
What the internal probe found
An internal DMV investigation in 2020–21 found that document examiner John Stefanski, a DMV employee since 1999, developed a quid‑pro‑quo relationship with D&L Auto Body & Towing in Berlin, Connecticut. According to the case report, when D&L staff came to the main Wethersfield DMV office, Stefanski allowed them to bypass long queues; in return, he was allowed to walk the company’s lot on his days off and pick from vehicles that had been towed and not reclaimed.
Investigators said D&L then undervalued those vehicles on DMV paperwork, enabling an investment firm owned by Stefanski to buy at steep discounts and resell them at market prices. Between 2015 and 2019, D&L sold 15 cars to his company; in one example, he allegedly bought a Cadillac for about $1,000 and later sold it for $17,500, with a subsequent resale at over $23,000.
How the car sales scheme worked
The probe found that the arrangement exploited gaps in Connecticut’s towing and abandoned‑vehicle oversight system. Once a car was towed and not promptly reclaimed, D&L could dispose of it, and by understating its value on required DMV forms, the company reduced what it owed to previous owners or to the state before selling on to Stefanski’s firm.
Investigators also cited evidence that at least one repair receipt used in the paperwork for a Jeep was fabricated at Stefanski’s request to support the low valuation. In internal interviews documented by the DMV, a D&L employee told investigators that Stefanski claimed he was buying vehicles “for his family” but then quickly listed them for sale online, and that Stefanski boasted union support meant “they can’t do nothing.”
Why it took five years to fire him
Although DMV investigators completed their report in 2021, the agency took no immediate disciplinary action; Stefanski remained employed for years, and D&L kept its state towing contracts after firing the manager involved. The inaction only came to light when the Connecticut Mirror and ProPublica published detailed stories in March and June 2025, revealing the scheme and the lack of consequences.
Facing public pressure and criticism from legislators who cited a “culture of corruption” and slow accountability, the DMV moved to dismiss Stefanski in November 2025, nearly five years after the investigation began. A termination letter obtained by reporters says he violated rules on conflicts of interest, misuse of position and conduct unbecoming a state employee. Stefanski is appealing the firing with union assistance and has publicly denied wrongdoing.
Timeline of key events
| Year / date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2015–2019 | D&L sells 15 towed vehicles at low declared values to Stefanski’s investment firm. |
| Feb 2020–2021 | DMV investigations unit probes links between Stefanski and D&L; internal report completed. |
| Mar & Jun 2025 | Connecticut Mirror/ProPublica publish investigations exposing the scheme and lack of sanctions. |
| Nov 2025 | DMV fires Stefanski nearly five years after opening the probe; he appeals through his union. |
Broader issues with towing and DMV oversight
The case has become a flashpoint in a wider debate about Connecticut’s century‑old towing laws and DMV enforcement. Separate reporting showed the agency never fully built systems to monitor whether towing companies correctly notify vehicle owners, set fair storage fees or return surplus auction proceeds, creating opportunities for abuse.
Lawmakers are now pressing for reforms, including clearer conflict‑of‑interest rules for DMV staff, stronger audit powers over tow operators, and deadlines for acting on internal investigations. Advocates argue the Stefanski case illustrates how weak oversight can allow insiders and private contractors to profit from towed vehicles at the expense of car owners and public trust.
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FAQs
Q1: What exactly was the DMV employee accused of doing?
Investigators say he traded queue‑jumping favors for access to towed cars, bought them at undervalued prices through his own investment firm, and resold them for large profits.
Q2: Why did it take so long to fire him?
Although the internal investigation wrapped up in 2021, no action was taken until media reports in 2025 drew public and political attention; he was then dismissed in November 2025.
Q3: Is the former employee facing criminal charges?
As of the latest reports, he has been fired and is appealing through his union; authorities have not publicly announced any criminal charges linked to the towing scheme.
