Middletown police arrested a township man for theft by deception and other charges last week after he quickly resold a car he bought as a junker, they allege.
The purported crime was discovered soon after police went to help a Delaware couple whose vehicle broke down moments after they bought it from the suspect, according to an announcement by the department’s spokesman, Lieutenant Joe Capriotti.
Here’s the full announcement:
A Middletown man was arrested on January 29, 2010 on charges of falsifying motor vehicle records, theft by deception and engaging in the business of a vehicle dealer without being licensed to do so.
James M. Maltese, age 33, of Harmony Road in Middletown was arrested by Officer Larisa Doriety after an investigation by Lieutenant John Maguire and Officer Doriety.
On Friday January 29, 2010, Lt. Maguire assisted a couple who was experiencing car trouble with a 1999 Dodge Durango that was purchased moments before from Maltese.
The couple had been shopping for a car on Craig’s List, an internet shopping site, and discovered the Durango for sale by Maltese. They drove from their home in Harrington, Delaware to Middletown to purchase the car. They immediately began experiencing mechanical problems with the car.
Lt. Maguire and Officer Doriety examined the bill of sale the couple was given which showed the seller of the vehicle was a female from Keansburg. She was contacted and provided a statement to the officers that she had brought the car to a repair shop in Keyport and was told the vehicle needed a new head gasket. Due to the cost of the repairs she decided to junk the vehicle. She contacted a person who paid her $150 for her car and she signed the bill of sale over. The car was then delivered to Maltese who advertised the car for sale on Craig’s List.
The victim arranged to meet Maltese, who represented himself as a car dealer, on January 29th and agreed to purchase the vehicle for $2,995. Maltese then issued a fraudulent temporary license plate and never informed the buyers of the car’s mechanical problems.
Maltese turned himself in at police HQs and refunded the purchase price of the car. A computer that was believed to be used in creating the false documents was seized by Officer Doriety and Lt. Maguire. Maltese was released on his own recognizance pending a future court appearance.
