GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – A vintage car repairman is behind bars in Galveston County after the Auto Crimes Task Force served a search warrant at a storage unit facility off FM 3436 in Dickinson.
Richard Finley, 48, is charged with property theft greater than $300,000 after a months-long investigation by the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators served the search warrant around 10 a.m. Wednesday and worked into the evening. They found about 10 vintage cars that are in the process of being returned to the appropriate owners.
According to investigators, Finley’s business of restoring old cars kept changing locations with the cars in tow, but he wouldn’t answer owners’ phone calls or let them know about the moves.
When Finley defaulted on payments to the storage facility, the sheriff’s office said he got locked out and owners couldn’t get to their cars.
Only KPRC 2′s cameras captured some of the cars being towed away on Wednesday night, as owners finally found out where their cars have been for months.
“I was shocked that they had my car and that it was being released,” Trae, the owner of a 1972 Camaro, told KPRC 2. “The guy’s obviously a crook. I mean, he’s swindled a lot of people out of money, myself included.”
Trae said he paid Finley $28,000 for repairs to his Camaro and was told it would take 12 weeks to complete the job. But it’s still not done two years later, he said.
“Do your homework before you drop your car off at a shop. You know, make sure that you keep all your receipts. I kept all my receipts and so hopefully, somehow that works in my benefit. I totally don’t expect to get my money back at all. I’m just glad I got my car back,” he said.
KPRC 2 spoke to three other victims, all who allege Finley mishandled their cars or money after being hired for repairs.
According to court records, Finley has been sued several times by other customers who claim he mishandled their cars or money.
As detectives collected evidence on Wednesday afternoon, Finley showed up at the storage unit and was taken into custody. His bond was set at $200,000.
The sheriff’s office said additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.