West Haven Man Charged In Multi-State Vehicle Fraud Scheme: Officials

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven man has been arrested in connection with a fraud scheme that involved stolen vehicles and spanned multiple states, according to officials.

James G. O’Neil, 47, turned himself in on Dec. 4 to authorities at the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on an arrest warrant.

The DMV’s law enforcement unit, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Division, recently concluded a nearly seven-month long investigation into O’Neil, who is accused of “engaging in fraudulent vehicle transactions in connection with stolen vehicles,” according to a news release.

“The investigation, led by DMV auto theft investigators, involved coordination with law enforcement agencies and motor vehicle departments in multiple states,” officials wrote in the news release. “The investigation uncovered a complex network of illicit activities involving forged documents associated with vehicles owned, traded, and/or sold by O’Neil. This discovery led to the seizure of multiple stolen vehicles.”

O’Neil faces charges including title fraud, second-degree forgery, and larceny of a motor vehicle, according to officials. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Dec. 18.

“I would like to applaud the work being carried out by our auto theft personnel,” DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera said. “Their collaboration with other law enforcement agencies has been instrumental. It is crucial for consumers to remain diligent and to do some research before purchasing a pre-owned vehicle through a private sale to ensure they are making an informed and safe decision.”

O’Neil was previously arrested by the Stratford Police Department in January on accusations he was running an “extensive” internet scam and illegally selling vehicles on Facebook while working as a teacher at Stratford High School, according to police.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, officials said.

The DMV encourages anyone with additional information to contact the Connecticut DMV Auto Theft Unit at DMVAutoTheft@ct.gov.

See also: Stratford Teacher Accused Of Running ‘Extensive’ Online Scam: Police