CATSKILL — A Chatham man is wanted by police in multiple counties for allegedly bilking thousands of dollars in cash for automobiles he did not deliver, authorities said Wednesday.
State police in Catskill are asking the public’s help in finding Richard Dick, 44, who is wanted on a third-degree grand larceny charge and for failing to contact his parole officer.
Dick is accused of accepting $15,700 from a car buyer in Greene County on the promise that Dick would sell the buyer the used vehicles, state police said. Dick told the potential buyer that he repairs and sells repossessed vehicles from the state of Florida.
After receiving the money, Dick never produced the vehicles, police said. Dick also gave the false name Richard Gagnon to the buyer.
An arrest warrant was issued by New Baltimore Town Court. Dick is also wanted by the Bethlehem Town Police in Albany County. A call to Bethlehem Town Police was not immediately returned Wednesday.
Police are warning anyone who spots Dick not to approach him, but to contact state police at 518-622-8600 or send an email to crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. Dick is described as having brown eyes, bald, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds.
Dick has several prior felony criminal convictions related to theft.
Dick was sentenced to state prison in April 2019 on a third-degree grand larceny charge, a class D felony, but was released on parole four months later in August. He has since failed to contact his parole officers, police said.
Dick was first charged June 9, 2017, in Stockport after he allegedly stole more than $10,000 from customers for mechanic services and merchandise they did not receive, state police said.
An investigation into the first incident began in November 2016 after a man contacted state police to report he paid Dick several thousands of dollars for two tractors that he did not receive. State police investigators determined several area residents also were victimized by similar scams dating back to 2013, state police said.
The fraud schemes were conducted out of Factory Tire Outlet at 133 Rossman Road, Stockport, and Dick’s previous employer, Jack’s Towing, formerly located in Hudson, state police said.
Dick was sentenced April 23 in Columbia County Court to 1 to 3 years in state prison and ordered to pay restitution of $77,172 to his customers.
Dick’s other priors include an arrest on two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, a class E felony, in April 2004, for which he was sentenced to up to three years in state prison. He was released to parole in November of that same year.
To reach reporter Amanda Purcell, call 518-828-1616 ext. 2500, or send an email to apurcell@thedailymail.net, or tweet to @amandajpurcell.
Johnson Newspapers 7.1