The owner of a Granby, MO, auto sales and repair shop is accused of scamming people out of thousands of dollars.
Edward McDonald, 62, owner of Ed’s Auto Body and Sales, is charged with felony stealing in Newton County.
Granby police said 11 victims have filed official complaints saying they paid McDonald to purchase a vehicle, but then never received it.
Authorities estimate the total amount of the theft to be more than $100,000. They said they have received approximately 38 complaints.
Court records indicate some of the victims have bills of sale with the same vehicle identification numbers on them.
“Some people have saved for years to be able to buy this car," said Grandby Police Chief Rico Engberg. "I had a gentleman come in here the other day that bought a vehicle---he has a truck, but he has to take his mother with cancer back and forth to the doctors. And she can’t get in and out of the truck. So, he purchased a car so he could get her in and out easier and now he doesn’t have that.”
Police said they have not seen McDonald in about three weeks and the business has been closed.
The judge issued a criminal summons in the case, ordering McDonald to appear for arraignment Jan. 9.
