Coral Springs police arrest used car dealer accused of keeping more than $77,000 in sales tax
Coral Springs, Florida – A Sunrise man accused of keeping tens of thousands of dollars in sales tax collected from customers at his used car dealership was arrested after police discovered an outstanding warrant while he was visiting a Coral Springs hospital.
Alexander Medina, 43, was taken into custody on July 31 after officers located him at Broward Health Coral Springs on Coral Hills Drive. According to an arrest report, Medina was at the hospital acting as the guardian of a child involved in a separate incident. While checking his information, officers discovered a warrant connected to a state tax investigation.
The warrant had been signed by a judge in December following a two-year investigation by state tax officials, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Investigators allege Medina operated Next Level Auto, a used car dealership located on Pembroke Road in Hollywood, where customers paid sales tax as part of their vehicle purchases. State officials said that between May 2023 and February 2025, the dealership collected $93,932.87 in sales tax from buyers, but Medina failed to send $77,431.79 of that money to the state.
The affidavit states that the sales tax collected from customers legally belongs to Florida once it is paid and must be forwarded to the state. Investigators said they spent nearly two years attempting to work with Medina to resolve the issue.
During the investigation, tax officials reportedly contacted Medina 16 times. Three of those meetings took place at the state’s Coral Springs service center, where a specialist verified his identity using his driver’s license.
According to the affidavit, Medina told investigators that he was responsible for collecting the sales tax and submitting payments. Officials also explained the legal requirements regarding sales tax collections and informed him that the money collected from customers was considered state funds.
After those discussions, investigators said communication stopped. The affidavit states that Medina failed to file required sales tax paperwork from January 2024 through February 2025.
State officials also attempted to obtain business records from Medina. An investigator personally delivered a request for the documents, but officials said no records were provided. Medina was also offered an opportunity to participate in an interview and explain his side of the situation, but investigators said he did not appear.
The investigation also included a review of Medina’s bank records. According to the affidavit, investigators found that his accounts contained enough funds to cover the unpaid sales tax amount.
Based on the findings, Medina was charged in connection with the alleged failure to properly remit collected sales tax. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
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The arrest brought an unexpected end to Medina’s visit to the Coral Springs hospital, where he had arrived because of the unrelated situation involving the child in his care. Instead of leaving the facility after assisting the child, he was taken into custody by police.
Court records show that a judge set Medina’s bond at $5,000. He posted bond on August 1 and was released while the case moves forward through the court system.
The allegations against Medina have not been proven in court. He remains entitled to due process as the legal proceedings continue.
