Dealer Gets Prison After Selling Cars With Fake Plates And No Titles To 47 Victims

Buying a car is one of the most financially important choices a person in America can make. That makes the entire situation hit a little harder when you hear that 47 people bought used cars in Massachusetts, only to find out that they couldn't legally register them. That's all because the person who sold those cars did so, in part, by grifting the buyers and the original seller. Now, that person is facing several years in prison and over $340,000 worth of restitution.

That man is Edward Cicciu, former owner of Bristol County Auto Exchange in Swansea, Massachusetts. He entered a plea of guilty in court on November 6. He's awaiting sentencing but will face at least four years in prison, and that number could jump to six. Either way, he'll deal with five years of probation and a restitution bill of $340,380.76 that will go to his 47 victims.

Cicciu doesn't appear to be the sharpest spoon in the drawer. Authorities say that he would mislead people through his business, Bristol County Auto Exchange. Customers initially complained that they were paying for cars but never getting the titles that they needed to register said vehicles. His genius scheme was to scam two parties. First, he would buy the car in question from an auction house. That auction house wouldn't release the title until he paid for the vehicle in full.

Meanwhile, he would sell the same vehicle to the customer and simply never pay the auction house. So the auction house would never send the title, the customer would never get the title, and Cicciu seemingly figured nobody would ever figure this daft idea out.

Police say that, "On Friday, CICCIU changed his plea to guilty on 43 counts of Larceny Over $1,200 by False Pretenses, 38 counts of Failure to Deliver Title Upon Transfer of a Motor Vehicle, 37 counts of Forging/Misusing an RMV Document, five counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle and two counts of Larceny by Check Over $1,200."

That's progress, but there's an important caveat. The restitution doesn't automatically mean that every victim will be made whole. Depending on the situation, some victims might have to go after Cicciu on their own. That said, the conviction could make that considerably easier.

The local DA and police chief had plenty to say on the subject. "The defendant conned and ripped off 47 victims between the ages of 18 and 80 who thought they were purchasing vehicles in a legitimate business transaction. Unfortunately, much to their horror, the defendant had no intention of completing the sales," said District Attorney Quinn.

"He only intended to steal their money. He even conned a victim at her son's wake in the funeral home. This is absolutely despicable and unconscionable conduct. I am sure he will never pay back the restitution ordered by the court.

However, I hope the victims feel there is some accountability, although not enough, for his callous and inhumane behavior. I would like to thank Assistant District Attorney Nicole Cheney and Swansea Police Detective Charles Rowland for their efforts in investigating and charging the defendant in this very disturbing criminal caper."

"These victims paid for vehicles they could not register, leaving them without reliable transportation and out thousands of dollars," said Chief Foley. "Detective Rowland worked diligently to investigate their reports and build the case against Edward Cicciu.

I commend his persistence and thank Assistant District Attorney Cheney and the District Attorney's Office for seeing this case through to a successful resolution. While this outcome cannot undo the hardship these victims experienced, it holds the defendant accountable for his actions." There are countless sketchy dealers out there in both the new and used-car business. It's great to see that at least a few of them are facing serious penalties for grifting customers.