Change of plea hearing scheduled for former owner of Swansea used car business held on bail in Fall River Superior Court on 125 charges

A change of plea hearing was scheduled Thursday in the Fall River Superior Court for a local man facing 125 charges. 

Edward Cicciu of Attleboro was previously arraigned in the Fall River Superior Court on 43 Counts of Larceny under $1200 by False Pretenses, 2 Counts of Larceny by Check over $1200, 37 Counts of Forging or Misusing an RMV Document, 38 Counts of Failing to Deliver Title upon a Motor Vehicle Transfer and 5 Counts of Larceny of a Motor Vehicle. The defendant was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail by the Court.

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, IIII, it is alleged that Edward Cicciu was the owner and operator of Bristol County Auto Exchange, Inc., a used car dealership in Swansea, MA.  Through an investigation, it is alleged that he used financing companies to obtain loans to purchase vehicles at auctions and place them on his lot for sale.  Customers paid Cicciu for the vehicles.  He then indicated to customers that the title and registration would be provided in a few days.  Cicciu is alleged to have printed out false New Jersey temporary vehicle plates and registrations and provide them to customers.  He, upon receipt of payment, did not pay off the loans on the vehicles he sold, as he indicated he would and did not obtain titles.  When customers inquired about their titles, Cicciu eventually stopped responding.  He is also alleged to have provided customers with bad checks for refunds when they returned their vehicles due to mechanical or safety issues.  Some customers never received their vehicles after payment, and he took possession of other vehicles to sell for customers who never received payment, or their vehicles went missing from the lot.

The Commonwealth has identified at least 47 victims from ages 18 to 80 years of age with an approximate loss of $325,750.  Cicciu has a history of larceny offenses and was on probation at the time of these alleged offenses.

The change of plea hearing is scheduled for November 6th.