SWANSEA, Mass. (WPRI) — The owner of a used car dealership in Swansea was arraigned Thursday morning on charges that he swindled at least two dozen customers by selling vehicles he did not own.

Edward Cicciu, 46, of Attleboro, was ordered held for no more than 90 days on $100,000 bail. He faces nine counts of larceny by false pretenses, eight counts of forging RMV documents, 13 counts of failure to deliver a title upon motor vehicle transfer, and four counts of motor vehicle larceny.

Prosecutors allege that from October 2023 through September 2024, Cicciu engaged in a “pattern of conduct where he was deceiving and defrauding victims who were simply looking to purchase a vehicle.”

Cicciu is accused of getting vehicles from a loan auction and putting them up for sale at his business, Bristol County Auto Exchange, without actually having the titles in hand. He allegedly collected payment from customers, promising to mail them the titles and registrations.

However, since May, police said they have received reports from 25 buyers who claim they never received the titles, preventing them from registering the vehicles.

In court, prosecutors said the victims’ attempts to contact the dealership went unanswered when they followed up about the missing titles and registrations.

Some victims also told police there was extensive damage to the vehicles they purchased, including one case where a buyer needed a new catalytic converter, tire pressure gauges, and an exhaust gasket, according to prosecutors.

In other instances, victims who brought their vehicles back to the dealership for repairs claim they never got the cars back, and when they returned to the lot, the vehicles were no longer there.

Prosecutors said the potential financial loss to the victims exceeds $250,000.

In addition, Cicciu allegedly failed to pay the auction for the vehicles, so the organizers are now working to recover the cars from the victims.

Since Cicciu’s arrest on Tuesday , 10 more people have come forward, claiming to be victims of the scheme, according to police.

Anyone who believes they may have been targeted is asked to contact Swansea Police Officer Donald Dibiasio at (508) 674-8464.

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