Virginia Auto Dealer Charged With Fraud

A Waynesboro car dealer was arrested Monday for a slew of allegedly fraudulent business practices.

Rodney Price, 42, owner of RSD Motors on Apple Tree Lane, has been charged with 33 misdemeanor counts of selling a vehicle without a title, two misdemeanor counts of improper registration material, four felony charges of disposing of mortgage property, three felony counts of obtaining money under false pretenses and one felony cou

Investigators from The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles first searched the RSD Motors offices March 1 after receiving a number of complaints from customers who said they had not received titles to vehicles purchased from the lot, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Crimora resident Dale Early sold a 2004 GMC Sonoma on consignment through RSD Motors late last year, he said. But when the new owner drove it off the lot Dec. 15, it was still registered in Early’s name, according to the charges.

“Rodney had let them have the truck with my insurance on it and my tags on it for two months,” Early said. “Somebody could have [driven under the influence] or gotten in an accident or something and I’d have been responsible.”

Although Price had originally agreed pay Early $4,500 and close out his loan within 15 days of the sale, Early did not get his money until mid-February, he said. And Early had to continue making payments on his old loan until March, he said.

The situation led to a heated confrontation with the truck’s new owner — who was also making payments on the vehicle — when Early attempted to reclaim it outside her residence, he said.

“I think Rodney needs to be punished,” he said. “He took advantage of a lot of people and he just lied and lied about it. He put people through a lot of heartache and trouble.”

Calvin Walker, 44, of Grottoes, had a similar experience when he traded in a 2004 Toyota Matrix for a 2005 Kia Sedona through RSD Motors in January, he said. Instead of paying off Walker’s loan on the Matrix, as agreed, Price made payments on the account — including two late payments, Walker said.

“He was using my credit,” Walker said.

Walker didn’t realize what was happening until a bank turned down a loan application because of too much outstanding debt, he said. He said the damage to his credit could be long lasting.

“I can’t undo what he’s done,” he said.

After an arraignment in Waynesboro General District Court Monday afternoon, Price was released on a $15,000 secured bond.

The investigation is ongoing, police said.