A Florida car salesman faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted of carjacking a Black man over a missed auto loan payment, stemming from a misunderstanding about financing terms. Erik Hadad, 58, was found guilty by a federal jury on October 8, 2024, after a series of events that escalated into a dangerous confrontation at Miami International Airport.
The incident began when the victim, a 24-year-old man who financed a 2020 Honda Accord, missed his first automatic payment in October 2023. Unbeknownst to the buyer, the dealership, Guru Auto Sales—owned by Hadad’s family—had a special agreement with the finance company. This agreement allowed the company to demand repayment of the loan from the dealership if a customer missed a payment within the first two months. The customer, however, had not been given this information.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the victim’s first payment failed to process due to an autopay issue, but he quickly made the payment in late November 2023, including a late fee. Despite catching up on his account, the finance company sent a letter to Guru Auto Sales on December 14, 2023, demanding immediate repayment of $13,800. The dealership was instructed not to repossess the car, and the customer soon brought his payments up to date.
Ignoring those instructions, Hadad decided to take matters into his own hands. On December 19, 2023, he followed the victim in a black BMW to Miami International Airport. At a red light, Hadad jumped out of his car, tore the paper temporary tag off the victim’s Honda, and began shouting at him to exit the vehicle. The startled victim sped off when the light turned green.
Undeterred, Hadad pursued the victim to the MIA Tri-Rail station, where he confronted him again. This time, Hadad lifted his shirt to reveal a gun in his waistband, prompting the victim to hand over his car keys in fear. The victim immediately contacted Miami-Dade police, who later arrested Hadad.
As the case unfolded, federal prosecutors took over due to the interstate nature of the vehicle’s sale. Hadad, an Israeli national, now faces a potential 15-year prison sentence, with sentencing set for January 9, 2025.
The incident, sparked by a misunderstanding over a relatively modest amount of money, has left many shocked. “Now you’re going to jail all over a used $13,000 Hyundai,” commented one observer on social media, summing up the disbelief over Hadad’s actions.
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