Fake Dealership

The car dealership didn't exist, but a man in Connecticut managed to make some money at other people's expense. A city man has been charged with bilking a lending agency and car shoppers out of more than $100,000 by selling and financing cars from a dealership that didn't exist. Thomas Vollano, 39, was arrested Tuesday after a three-week investigation in which police raided his home and business. Police began investigating Vollano when a finance company complained to police about fraudulent loans being prepared for the sale of used cars. Police said the cars did not exist. Vollano created on paper a fake used car dealership - M&S Automotive of East Haven - and completed loan applications for fictitious customers, police said. Vollano also bilked some shoppers by using titles from junked cars to secure down payments on cars that were never delivered, police said. Vollano, who was charged with two counts of third-degree larceny and second-degree forgery, was being held on $35,000 bail. Additional arrests are expected.