SWANSEA, Mass. (WPRI) — Detectives are still working to track down a man accused of selling numerous vehicles he did not own to unsuspecting customers at his used car business in Swansea.
An investigation revealed that at least 25 customers fell victim were defrauded while attempting to purchase a car at Bristol County Auto Exchange.
Edward Cicciu, 46, of Attleboro, is accused of receiving cars on loan from local auctions but not obtaining the titles. Cicciu then reportedly sold those cars at his Swansea dealership with fake or forged license plates affixed to them.
He promised his victims he would mail the titles and registrations to his customers, but never followed through, according to authorities.
Ethan Bergantim told 12 News he bought a 2011 BMW from Cicciu back in June and spent months waiting for the title to come in the mail.
He knew something was wrong when Cicciu stopped responding to his inquiries about the title.
“[I was] texting and calling … nothing. No answer,” Bergantim recalled.
He later learned Cicciu had given him a phony temporary license plate.
“That’s when I started realizing this was not going to be pretty,” he said.
Police said the auction still owns the vehicles, since Cicciu failed to pay what he owed for them. The auction is now in the process of repossessing the cars from Cicciu’s victims.
Bergantim said the ordeal has been extremely stressful and he’s hoping Cicciu will eventually be held accountable.
“I would probably say I have invested close to $10,000 in this,” he said. “I feel like I’m living in a movie.”
Anyone who may have fallen victim to Cicciu’s scheme are urged to contact Swansea Police Officer Donald Dibiasio by calling (508) 674-8464.