The financial services arm of Mercedes-Benz is demanding the payment – or repossession – of a vehicle from University of Colorado safety Shilo Sanders.
According to USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer (via Yahoo Sports), the automaker is seeking relief from a court where Sanders filed for bankruptcy in 2023 after accumulating $11million in debt.
The company claims that Sanders is past due for $6,877 in monthly payments on a vehicle. Sanders has an outstanding balance of $97,239 while the trade-in value of the car stands at $97k even.
Now, Mercedes-Benz is seeking permission from the court to take possession of the vehicle and for Sanders, the son of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, to reveal its location.
It’s not clear exactly what Mercedes-Benz model Sanders is in possession of.
Sanders filed for bankruptcy back in October of 2023 in an attempt to clear that $11m in debt.
Mercedes-Benz is hoping to repossess a car owned by Colorado cornerback Shilo Sanders
Sanders (L), son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders (center), filed for bankruptcy in 2023
A majority of that debt is owed to John Darjean, a security guard who worked at the high school Shilo attended in Texas.
While the Chapter 7 filing triggered a stay or hold on any debt collection efforts against the 25-year-old Sanders, the automaker argues they’re entitled to relief from this stay due to the missing payments.
‘The motor vehicle is depreciating in value, the contract is in default and the movant (Mercedes Benz Financial Services) is being prevented by the automatic stay from exercising its remedies to repossess and liquidate its collateral, the motor vehicle,’ said the filing from Mercedes Benz Financial Services and its creditor attorney Doug Koktavy.
Records indicate that Sanders agreed to buy the vehicle – valued then at $135,000 – with an installment plan back in May of 2023. That came roughly five months before filing for bankruptcy.
Sanders continued to make car payments after filing for bankruptcy. However, the company claims that he recently defaulted.
‘Debtor (Sanders) indicated an intent to retain the motor vehicle and reaffirm the obligation,’ the company’s filing stated. ‘Debtor has not accomplished this intention.’
Sanders’ bankruptcy case originated from an incident back in 2015. Darjean claimed that the young Shilo, who was 15-years-old at the time, caused him severe and permanent injuries as he tried confiscating the boy’s phone.
While Shilo claimed he was acting in self-defense, Darjean sued the boy for damages.
Mercedes claims Sanders (21) has not fulfilled his obligations and payments on the vehicle
Sanders is trying to get drafted into the NFL. Currently, he’s a projected late-round pick.
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The case eventually went to trial in 2022 and Darjean was awarded a default judgement of $11.89million after Sanders failed to appear at the court date.
Shilo then filed for bankruptcy about one year later in an attempt to get a ‘fresh start’ free from that debt. Darjean is continuing to fight in order to get the damages he’s owed.
If the court doesn’t discharge Sanders’ debt, Darjean could still pursue debt collection against Shilo in the future. If the court does discharge, it’s only likely that Darjean would collect a fraction of the Texas court’s judgement.
Attorneys for Sanders did not comment to USA Today.
Shilo Sanders is currently in the process of preparing for the NFL Draft.
He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, depriving him of a chance to work out in front of the league’s top talent analyzers.
It’s not clear if he’ll be drafted – with projections currently pegging him as a late-round pick. It’s possible he could sign with a team in free agency if he isn’t selected.