A Closet

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LoCastro in trouble....

Charges on used car dealer mount

Vinnie the Torch is burnt toast and not only that, now Kimmy is getting some lawsuit action. Here's the latest charges filed last month with more to probably follow.

3/3/2010

Charges on used car dealer mount

By Kathie O. Warco Observer-Reporter [e-mail]

The owner of a Canonsburg used car dealership, already facing charges for allegedly failing to pay the state money for fees he collected on vehicles he sold, now faces theft charges.
Vincent A. LoCastro, 47, of 102 Standing Rock Drive, McMurray, was charged Feb. 19 by state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations Western Task Force with deceptive or fraudulent business practices, theft by deception, bad checks and theft. The charges were filed at the office of District Judge David Mark.

LoCastro is accused of failing to give full payment of $20,000 for the 2005 Lexus that Kenneth Homerosky of North Franklin Township was selling.

According to court documents filed with Mark, Homerosky talked with All Pro employee DJ Logue about selling the Lexus on Sept. 28. They reportedly agreed that All Pro Auto would sell the car and give Homerosky $20,000 by Oct. 1.

When Homerosky went to the dealership to get his money, he was reportedly told they needed more time to sell the vehicle. On Oct. 6, Homerosky received a check for $19,500. When he tried to cash the check, it was returned for insufficient funds. Logue talked to LoCastro about the check. LoCastro reportedly said the check was OK; however, when Homerosky attempted to cash it, the check was again returned for insufficient funds.

Logue told police that LoCastro did not want to buy the vehicle but agreed to put it on the lot. If it did not sell, the dealership would take it to an auction. LoCastro took the luxury car to the auction. Records from American Auto Auction show the car sold for $21,100. After fees, a check for $20,900 was made out to Auction Credit Enterprises and applied toward All Pro Auto's debt with the auction. Earlier this month, Auction Credit Enterprises of Irving, Texas, filed a suit in federal court against LoCastro, his wife, Kim, and LoCastro & Associates, seeking foreclosure of the dealership, claiming LoCastro is in default of a $500,000 loan obtained in December.
Homerosky eventually received $4,000 for the vehicle but attempts to recover the remaining $16,000 have been unsuccessful.

Earlier this month, Locastro was charged by state police at the Washington barracks with multiple violations including 338 counts of applications for certificate of title and more than 500 counts of violating rules for registering vehicles. He is also charged with theft by failure to make required deposit of funds and tampering with public records.

LoCastro also faces charges filed last year in federal and Washington County courts.

In December, LoCastro was indicted in federal court for allegedly using another person's personal information to obtain financing for nine luxury cars.

A preliminary hearing for both sets of charges filed against LoCastro is set for March 18 before Mark.

http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/03-03-2010-locastro-charged-again