Charleston, S.C. - A Summerville auto salesman is behind bars, facing more than 50 charges.

 

Old Towne Auto Sales has been under investigation for some time. On monday, the owner turned himself into the police.

The dealership is closed, the owner is in jail on a half a million dollar bond. He faces 54 fraud charges. Police say this summer, customers started coming forward, complaining about a potential scam.

They're frustrated, fed up and filling the same courtroom with the same complaint, Sal Rigoroso.

"We were just totally blind sighted," said one victim. "Yes I'm angry. Very angry," said another. "Its horrible it has to go against our credit and everything we've worked hard for," said a third.

The victims are customers of Rigoroso, the owner of Old Towne Auto. They left his lot with new vehicles after trading in their old. The problem, police say, Rigoroso never finished the deal.

"I have a trade in worth about 18,000 that he didn't pay off and now I'm responsible for paying it off at this moment," said James Flesher, who believes he was scammed.

There are at least 54 cases with similar stories.

"I don't know if the car is mine. I don't know where the car is that I traded in but I know I'm still legally obligated to pay for it," said Terri Swanson, another alleged victim.

Rigoroso's attorney considers the situation tied to the country's financial meltdown.

"Our nation and everybody around us had a huge economic downturn this summer and he got caught up in it as much as everyone else," said the attorney. But no consolation for those people left in the drivers seat.

The total victim loss is estimated at one point two million dollars. Most victims say they're trying to cover their now multiple car payments, all to keep their credit in tact.

Rigoroso is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next month.