Swansea Used Car Dealer Wanted For Fraud Arrested By Boston Police

SWANSEA (WBSM) — The Swansea used car dealer who was wanted for allegedly running a scheme in which he sold cars he didn’t own to dozens of people has now been taken into custody.

Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley said that Edward Cicciu, 46, of Attleboro was arrested by Boston Police Tuesday night at around 9 p.m.

“I want to thank our law enforcement partners who helped to spread the word about the warrants for Mr. Cicciu's arrest, leading to him being taken into custody last night in Boston,” Chief Foley said. “Since we announced the warrants last week, several additional victims have come forward and we remain diligent as we continue to work on this case.”

Cicciu is charged with nine counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretenses; eight counts of forge/misuse of an RMV document; 13 counts of failure to deliver a title upon motor vehicle transfer; four counts of larceny of a motor vehicle; and one count of larceny by check over $1,200.

Foley said additional charges are also expected to be filed in the coming days as the investigation into the scheme continues.

Cicciu will be arraigned on Thursday, October 3 in Fall River District Court.

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Foley said that since May of this year, about 25 people have reported to Swansea Police that they were defrauded by Bristol County Auto Exchange, located at 2388 Grand Army of the Republic Highway.

He said after the police department's announcement last week about their investigation, at least 10 additional alleged victims have come forward.

READ MORE: Swansea Used Car Dealer Charged With Fraud

According to Foley, the investigation determined that Cicciu receives cars on loan from a local auction but doesn’t receive the titles for the vehicles until he pays the auction in full; however, he was still allegedly placing the vehicles up for sale on his lot.

He would then allegedly complete the sale to a customer, take payment, attach fake or forged license plates and would tell the purchaser that the title and registration would be mailed to them.

However, Foley said at that point, Cicciu would allegedly stop responding to the victims and never paid the auction for the vehicle. The purchaser never received a title and cannot register their vehicle.

In addition, Foley said that because the auction company still owned the vehicles, they are in the process of repossessing them from those who purchased vehicles from Cicciu.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of the fraud scheme involving Cicciu should contact Swansea Police Officer Donald Dibiasio at (508) 674-8464.