FALL RIVER — Swansea Chief of Police Mark Foley and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III report that an investigation by the Swansea Police Department into a used car fraud scheme has resulted in a prison sentence for a former dealership owner.
EDWARD CICCIU, 48, of ATTLEBORO, pleaded guilty to 120 criminal counts on Friday, Nov. 6, in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River.
Judge Raffi N. Yessayan sentenced CICCIU to serve 4 to 6 years in state prison at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, followed by 5 years of probation after the prison sentence.
The judge also ordered CICCIU to pay $340,380.76 in restitution to the victims.
The case involved 47 victims between the ages of 18 and 80 who believed they were purchasing vehicles through legitimate business transactions.
Swansea Police began investigating Bristol County Auto Exchange, located at 2388 Grand Army of the Republic Highway, in May 2024 after receiving reports from customers who paid for vehicles but never received the titles needed to register them.
Investigators determined that CICCIU obtained vehicles from an auction company but would not receive their titles until he paid the company in full. He sold the vehicles to customers, took their payments and provided fake or forged license plates, promising that titles and registrations would arrive by mail.
CICCIU then stopped responding to customers and failed to pay the auction company, leaving buyers without titles to vehicles they had purchased.
Boston Police arrested CICCIU on Swansea Police warrants in October 2024. Additional victims came forward after Swansea Police publicized the investigation.
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.
As conditions of probation, CICCIU is prohibited from working in auto sales and must remain drug- and alcohol-free, submit to screening and pay the court-ordered restitution.
“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.”
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