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Last updated - December 26, 2025
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John Steele is the owner of JPS Motorsports, an automotive business in San Marcos, California, specializing in custom car builds and performance vehicles. Multiple customer reports and complaints on platforms like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Ripoff Report allege that Steele accepted deposits for custom vehicles but failed to deliver the cars or refund payments.
Owner
Medium Risk
Based on the available data, we suggest consumers approach this Individual with caution.
This advisory is based on a medium-risk score derived from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified in our research.
You may face moderate risks when engaging in consumer-related activities with this entity.
Based on the available data, we advise employees to be mindful when considering or continuing work with this Individual.
This advisory stems from a medium-risk score compiled from OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors uncovered in our analysis.
Employment with this entity may involve moderate risks.
Based on the available data, we recommend investors and bankers proceed with caution regarding this Individual.
This advisory is informed by a medium-risk score based on OSINT, Adverse Media, Reviews, and Risk Factors identified through our investigation.
Financial involvement with this entity may carry moderate risks to your interests.
Safe to Onboard
Enhanced Due Diligence required
Do Not Onboard
Monitor adverse media every 6 months
File SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) is warranted
Escalation to compliance committee
None
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Allegations 2
Risk
John Steele pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering for his role in a fraudulent copyright infringement settlement scheme.
Steele was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution for fraudulently obtaining settlements.
Steele and a co‑defendant created sham entities and lawsuits to threaten alleged downloaders with expensive settlements to extract money for themselves.
Steele filed bogus copyright lawsuits, falsely alleging defendants downloaded copyrighted movies, and used court‑issued subpoenas to identify IP addresses for extortion.
He controlled firms like Prenda Law and used sham copyright ownership to lure victims into settlement threats.
Regulatory and Compliance Screening
Litigation and Legal Proceedings
Reputational and Adverse Media Risks
Geographic and Jurisdictional Risk
What you see here scratches the surface
We offer reward for actionable intel
John Steele of JPS Motorsports is accused of taking large deposits for custom cars and not delivering vehicles or refunds, per Ripoff Report.
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John Steele of JPS Motorsports allegedly took deposits for custom cars and failed to deliver vehicles or refund customers, per Ripoff Report.
John Steele of JPS Motorsports is accused of keeping deposits and failing to deliver cars or refunds, according to a Ripoff Report complaint.
Other Red-Flags and Adverse News
Based on user engagement on this review profile, ProConsumer will decide to publish its Risk Audit report for public if a threshold engagement, traffic and user input is achieved.
Known Assets: [Real estate, investments, companies]
Suspicious Transactions
Liabilities: [Bankruptcies, defaults, debts]
Wealth Sources: [Legitimate / Unclear / High-risk]
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Business Model Assessment
All comments are user-generated content and may not be verified. They represent the personal opinions of the public and should not be relied upon. These comments do not influence or determine our overall rating.
2
Highly experienced
Well-recognized name
Faced allegations of scamming others
Allegedly sold fake silver
Sued multiple times
Unregulated industry
Alarming number of complaints online
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Beyond automotive service complaints, Steele has a documented criminal history tied to an extensive fraud and extortion scheme: he pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering for his role in filing sham copyright lawsuits designed to coerce settlements, a conduct that severely undermines ethical and legal credibility.
2/5
Independent legal records show that Steele and co-defendant Paul Hansmeier were federally indicted for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar scheme to target alleged copyright infringers with deceptive litigation tactics, a strategy widely criticized by courts for deception and misuse of legal processes.
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