Investigators say the suspect charged customers more than $1,500 for services at the car dealership. Now these customers are shocked they were involved in a scam.
A former service provider here at the Texas GMC car dealership in northeast Harris County is on the run right now.
"We had an employee who had taken money from a customer and some things from us, so we pressed charges," general manager Bert Brocker said.
Brocker says Rexell Lamar Williams worked there for nearly a year. Court documents show that in late July, Williams arranged car repairs here for two customers. The customers paid in cash and got their repairs, but prosecutors say Williams pocketed the money.
Staff at the dealership only found out when they called the customers with their bills.
"He knew that it was coming down, so he was nervous at that point in time. And then he was in an accident and so he abandoned his job and never came back," Brocker said.
The dealership is looking into filing additional theft charges against Williams.
Meanwhile, Brocker has this advice for customers.
"When you come to a franchise dealership, the reason you do that is because you're not paying cash. There is an open RO, you go to the cashier, you pay for it there. Even if you pay cash, you get a receipt from the cashier," Brocker said.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.
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