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DMV investigators charge used-car dealer with felonies

By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com
By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Department of Motor Vehicle investigators said Cary Nolan, owner of Lee Family Motors in Mooresville, took dozens of customers' money for titles, but never paid the state.

So the state never sent the titles to them (if they paid in full) or their lenders (if they financed the vehicles).

DMV License and Theft Bureau supervisor J.T. Ratliff said his team charged Nolan with "24 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, 13 counts of embezzling state funds, and 12 counts of misuse of temporary markers, and 26 counts of failing to deliver title."

They arrested him last month. Nolan is due in court May 5.

Ratliff believes there are 26 victims in the case, including Edsel and Brenda Stone. They bought a Toyota pickup truck at Lee Family Motors around September and they're still waiting for the title.

"All of this has really been a mess and stressful, because I've never had anything to deal with like that," Brenda said. "I want to see him go to jail."

The state says it gave the 26 customers -- including the Stones -- temporary paperwork so they have proof they're driving vehicles they own, not stolen ones.

When Action 9's Jason Stoogenke knocked on Nolan's door, the man who answered acknowledged he was Nolan, but didn't want to discuss the case.  The exchange went like this:

  • Jason:  "We want to get your side of the story with everything."
  • Nolan:  "No."
  • Jason:  "Interested in talking to us?"
  • Nolan:  "No, I'm not interested in it."
  • Jason:  "OK.  Just want to be fair to you."
  • Nolan:  "I know.  I understand.  Thank you, though."

Lee Family Motors is now closed.

The lesson here is beware this can happen. If it does, keep hounding the dealer, and if you (or your lender) haven't gotten the title within about 15 days, Ratliff said to contact DMV's License and Theft Bureau http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/licensetheft/  because your temporary tags expire at 30 days and the bureau may need two weeks to get you paperwork to keep you out of trouble.

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