Monroe Township, Pa. — The owner of a Snyder County auto sales business is accused of misleading a victim when he sold a salvage title vehicle.
Ramel Maurice Lyles, 40, of Selinsgrove, now faces charges for the alleged fraudulent sale on Aug. 16 at RJ’s Automotives in Monroe Township.
Trooper Aaron M. Messner of Pennsylvania State Police at Milton’s Vehicle Fraud Unit investigated after receiving a report of theft in August. Here’s what happened according to the affidavit:
The victim went to the auto sales lot and expressed interest in buying a 2005 Mazda 3. Lyles told the victim they could start the paperwork. While completing the sales document in the office, Lyles told the victim that the vehicle’s fender had been repaired and there’s a work receipt showing that repair.
The victim then gave Lyles $3,000 cash for the vehicle, even though the bill of sale shows a total of $3,396 and receipt #124 shows $3,149. The bill of sale shows additional fees for document prep at $149, sales tax for $180, and a $67 title fee. Police say Lyles did not actually collect these fees nor did he forward the fees to the Commonwealth.
Lyles also allegedly did not include the fact that the vehicle was a salvage or junk title in any of the sales documents, leading the victim to believe he bought a roadworthy vehicle.
The victim told police that after he paid cash, Lyles told him he would give him the title. Lyles went into the office and came out with the sales paperwork and a New Jersey certificate of salvage. At that point, Lyles told the victim, “By the way, this is a salvage and this is a salvage title. All you have to do is take it and transfer it to you then get an enhanced inspection done.”
None of the information regarding the salvage title was told to the victim prior to the sale. The victim was under the impression a Pennsylvania certificate of title would be assigned to him from PennDOT for the vehicle. Since the victim did not know what an enhanced inspection or a certificate of salvage was, he took the vehicle and left.
Later on, the victim found out that there’s more involved to putting a salvage vehicle on the road, and realized Lyles misled him.
The victim reached out to Lyles later with more questions and advised the information on the New Jersey certificate of salvage was assigned to someone else, and not him. At that point, Lyles sent someone to retrieve the certificate from the victim and then applied for a Pennsylvania certificate of salvage, which was issued on Aug. 22 to RJS Automotive. Police say Lyles broke the law when he signed the back to the certificate blank and gave it to the victim.
Messner went to RJS Automotive on Aug. 29 to talk with Lyles, who was not able to produce business records for the sale of the Mazda. Messner found that Lyles also did not collect sales tax from the victim and never notified PennDOT of the sale. The vehicle ultimately was never transferred to the victim.
Lyles was charged with felony theft by deception – false impression, misdemeanor investigation by police officers – records, and related summaries through the office of District Judge Scott A. Zeigler. Bail was set at $5,000 unsecured. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 6 at Zeigler’s office.
Messner pointed out that Lyles was a license vehicles salesperson in Pennsylvania and the dealership was licensed through the Pennsylvania State Board of Vehicle Manufacturers. Lyles’ failure to collect taxes and properly handle the salvage title sale was in violation of those licenses.
