Seneca Man Charged in Upstate Car Scam

The Greenville Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that deputies had arrested a 33-year-old Seneca man in connection with a  "sophisticated" scam that could result in unknowing victims being in possession of stolen cars.

Investigators were notified by a local car dealership on June 21 that George Cleveland III was trying to sell a vehicle believed to have been stolen. When investigators arrived on scene at CarMax in Greenville, they discovered the 2012 Nissan Versa had been stolen from a dealership in Easley. 

Cleveland was arrested on scene and charged with one count of possession of a stolen vehicle and one count of falsifying a vehicle identification number. After his release from jail, however, more information came to light. 

On June 29, the same dealership contacted deputies after reviewing records and learning that Cleveland had sold them a 2011 Ford Fusion in May 2012. Investigators learned that vehicle had also been stolen, and Cleveland was arrested again. 

Cleveland was arrested on July 12 at the Oconee County Detention Center and booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, one count of falsifying a VIN and one count of obtaining monies under false pretense. He has since been released on $55,000 bond. 

Investigators say Cleveland would receive stolen vehicles and then change VIN plates to avoid detection. Cleveland would then sell the vehicles to dealerships using paperwork for a similar vehicle that he obtained illegally. Since the paperwork was for the same make and model, it was easier for Cleveland to pass the vehicles off as legitimate. 

Laura Campbell, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, said because of the extent of Cleveland's scam, it's possible there are other victims. 

"Because of the method that Cleveland used to scam the dealership, there is the potential that other businesses or individuals could have purchased a stolen vehicle unknowingly," Campbell said. "The Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone that has purchased a vehicle from Cleveland recently to contact the Sheriff’s Office to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen."