Rock Hill man accused of selling cars without titles

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rock Hill police say Bernard Gaston sold cars without titles.The owner of United Imports said he hired Gaston to clean and detail two cars, but that he never saw them again.

Mike Olang said, “[Gaston] never gave them back.”

Police believe Gaston sold the cars without the titles. Det. Rob Smith said Gaston "lures a person in, gets them to buy a vehicle."

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They charged Gaston with breach of trust and obtaining goods under false pretense.

They also sent a news release, saying they arrested “Gaston for fraud (again).”

“I think he knows he's committing crimes and he's doing it over and over,” Smith said.

Action 9 checked Gaston's criminal record.  It dates back to 1989 and includes convictions for larceny, fraud, and obtaining property under false pretense.

Action 9 first started investigating Gaston back in 2013 when a woman called and said she bought a car from him at Big A’s Auto Sales, but that he kept making excuses rather than give the car to her.

Then, weeks after the news report, police arrested Gaston for selling cars with bad titles.

He pled guilty, so it's not clear how many victims there were. But, at the time, police thought maybe hundreds.

"I am absolutely 100% positive there are more cases,” Smith said.

Detectives are looking for a 2007 Lexus E350. And, anyone who did business with Gaston.

Channel 9 has covered Gaston in the past. We reported police shut down his dealership in 2013 for similar fraud. And just three months ago, police said they caught him conducting more fraudulent car deals.

Gaston is charged with two counts of breach of trust auto and one count of obtaining goods under false pretense.

His bond was set at $195,000.

Officers are asking anyone who invested money with Gaston for purchase of vehicles or who purchased a vehicle from him to contact Det. Rob Smith at the Rock Hill Police Department at 803-329-5639.

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