Suspect allegedly defrauds Larry H. Miller dealership, attempts to evade police using fake diplomatic license plates

SANDY, Utah (ABC4) — A suspect is in custody after allegedly falsifying diplomatic license plates on a stolen vehicle.

On Aug. 2, 2025, staff from a Larry H. Miller car dealership in Sandy sold a vehicle worth over $60,000 to a man who paid using an IRS check which was found to be fraudulent by Zions Bank.

James Allan Sorensen, 41, has been arrested and booked on multiple felony charges for allegedly using the falsified check to purchase a gold 2022 Land Rover.

The company’s finance director told police that dealerships retain the title of vehicles until payment goes through. Shortly after the check was flagged, Larry H. Miller staff contacted police, reporting that they had contacted Sorensen requesting to meet with him at the bank. Charging documents say he refused.

During the investigation into Sorensen, officers with the Sandy Police Department found an open case lead by the Diplomatic Security Service against Sorensen that suspected him of using a fictitious diplomatic license plate on a Range Rover.

On Aug. 18, officers were able to track Sorensen’s vehicle to an intersection in Sandy near 11400 South and State Street using a “license plate reader database.” Detectives found a recent captures at the aforementioned location that showed a Range Rover with license plates that displayed “an eagle emblem” on the left side.

Police found another capture near 10500 South State Street that clearly displayed “DIPLOMAT” along the top of the license plate, charging documents say.

Agents with DSS were able to confirm the plates to be fictitious as there were no ambassadors in Utah during the time of Sorensen’s license plate captures. Detectives with Sandy PD were able to identify the plate to be false due to the absence of a “large seal next to the main characters” of the plate.

Sorensen is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail. He is facing multiple felony charges including receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, issuing a bad check, and forgery.