City moves to close Syracuse auto business with history of DMV, city code violations

Syracuse, N.Y. – Syracuse city officials are moving to try to close an auto business that state and city officials say has a history of selling unsafe vehicles and violating city codes.

The Common Council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall on a proposal to revoke Nembhard’s Auto Sales’ special use permits that allow the business to operate.

City officials said in a report to the council that the business, which operates out of a former car wash at 634 S. Geddes St., has never had the proper city permits to sell cars.

The city also went to court on Oct. 31 to ask a judge to order the business to correct the code violations or face fines of $100 per day per violation.

The city, over the last year, has repeatedly cited the business for violations that have not been corrected, according to court papers.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles has repeatedly found the car dealership violates state DMV law and conducts fraudulent business practices, Jake Dishaw, the city’s deputy commissioner of code enforcement and zoning administration, said in the report given to the council.

Ian Nembhard, the owner of the business, told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that he is not illegally selling cars and that he has not sold unsafe vehicles. He said he’s worked to correct code violations.

State DMV investigators found that between September 2024 and February 2025, the business sold at least 124 vehicles illegally, according to the city’s report. Some were unfit for safe road operation or were missing proper paperwork, the report said the DMV found.

The business’s DMV certificate to sell vehicles was suspended in 2018 and revoked in 2021, the report said.

The DMV said Nembhard has denied involvement in illegal sales and failed to show up for scheduled meetings in the past, according to the report.

A DMV spokesperson declined to answer questions about the business because there is an ongoing investigation.

The business has violated Syracuse zoning, fire and building codes, including those related to assembling cars, selling cars and building a convenience store on the property, according to court and city documents.

In August 2024, the city first cited the business for a series of building code violations and ordered them to fix the problems by the end of the month, according to the city’s court documents.

Nembhard continually failed to make the requested changes over the coming months, racking up violations, warnings, cease and desist warnings and stop work orders up through this October, city officials said.

Nembhard said he would be willing to make any changes. He also said he has not been receiving the city’s code violations, warnings or orders.

Dishaw, who has visited the property before, said that it is impossible that Nembhard didn’t receive the code citations, warnings and orders.

Each document was mailed to Nembhard’s home, and a second copy was physically dropped off to a person at the business with photo evidence, he said.

Nembhard was first licensed to open an “auto sales business” in early 2013, according to business records.

By 2015, his business began to encounter lawsuits from customers and by 2020, tax warrants started to arrive, according to court records.

Nembhard, 39, who lives in Salina, expressed shock at the allegations by the city and state when syracuse.com interviewed him at his business.

“I don’t understand why they are piling this up on me,” he said. Nembhard emphasized that he would never intentionally put someone in danger.

Nembhard said that his business operates solely as a service shop which does detailing, oil changes, tire service and car washes.

He explained that cars that have been bought and sold that came through his property were handled by The Auto Plug LLC, a business based in Georgia which he says can legally buy and sell cars. The Auto Plug could not be reached for comment.

He said he thought the code violations had been resolved the last time an inspector visited the business. He said he will work with the city.

Dishaw said the business has made no efforts to come into compliance.

“If he really wanted to work with us, he would show that by making progress on what we asked him to do,” Dishaw said. “That hasn’t happened at all.”

Dishaw explained that the city will continue to push forward with both the legal case and Common Council to shut Nembhard down.

After the public comments session, the Common Council will hold another discussion before voting on revoking Nembhard’s permits, Dishaw said. If the city revokes his permits, the business will need to close, he said.

In addition to trying to revoke his permits, the city will pursue the court case that could result in hefty fines and possible court orders against Nembhard.

“This is what we do,” Dishaw said. “A dangerous business like this has a bigger impact on a community than people realize. We work hard to keep our community safe and hold people accountable.”

Nembhard said he plans to consult with a lawyer and attend the meeting Wednesday.