Former Lubbock Car Dealer Seeks Sentence Reduction

AMARILLO, TX — Bart Wade Reagor, the once-prominent car salesman who wielded influence over the South Plains car dealership scene, faced conviction on a single count of lying to a bank in Federal Court in Amarillo back in 2021. His Reagor-Dykes Auto Group properties across the region now stand vacant (or sold), while Reagor himself languishes in a Louisiana federal prison, destitute and penniless, serving a 14-year sentence.

Currently representing himself in legal matters, Reagor is classified as a pro se litigant. Recently, he submitted a motion to the federal court in Amarillo pleading for clemency on his own behalf.

In 2022, a jury acquitted Reagor on two of the three charges against him. However, testimony from IBC Bank's President revealed that had he known Reagor would divert $1.76 million of a $10 million loan for personal use, he wouldn't have granted the loan to Reagor-Dykes Auto Group. These revelations likely swayed the jury to convict Reagor of making false statements to the bank. Reagor appealed his conviction, with oral arguments heard before the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 5, 2022. No decision has been reached thus far, according to court documents.

Reagor filed his plea for clemency on Feb. 13, citing guidelines under 18 U.S. Code § 3582 that allow prisoners to seek sentence reductions if federal sentencing guidelines have changed since their sentencing. He argues that he is eligible for a two-point reduction. Notably, there are 43 levels of federal sentencing guidelines.

The administration of federal sentencing guidelines falls under the jurisdiction of seven appointed members of the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC). Until early 2022, federal prison sentences typically meant serving 85 percent of the imposed sentence. In 2018, President Donald Trump signed the First Step Act into law, aimed at improving criminal justice outcomes. Subsequently, in 2022, the USSC moved to provide reduced sentences for certain categories, primarily targeting first-time, non-violent offenders. Reagor received his sentence on March 10, 2022, and commenced his term at the federal prison in Louisiana on May 9, 2023.

Upon reviewing the Federal Sentencing Table in Reagor’s case, a successful motion could potentially shave off two years from his sentence. However, the motion is expected to encounter strong opposition from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Flashback: Bart Reagor fights back with Wayne Dolcifino: