An Illinois man accused of committing fraud to obtain a car from a local dealership in 2009 pleaded guilty this month to issuing a worthless check during the transaction.
Nicholas T. Ruffino, 34, of Addison, Ill., was subsequently found guilty of the offense Aug. 10 in Racine County Circuit Court.
As part of the agreement, Ruffino was released on $4,000 signature bond with conditions that he live with his mother, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
A second count of theft by false representation was dismissed, but will be read into the court record as part of the sentencing process.
Sentencing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Racine County Circuit Court.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Ruffino allegedly gave Lynch GM Superstore of Burlington a check for $43,155 – written on an account for a jewelry business in Cicero, Ill. – for the purchase of a 2009 Pontiac G8 GTX.
Several days after the transaction, the check was returned for non-sufficient funds. Representatives from Lynch made several attempts to resolve payment with Ruffino, the complaint said, but he failed to provide them with a cashier’s check for the amount owed.
Although the title for the vehicle had been transferred to Ruffino, Lynch obtained the car after Ruffino brought it in for service. The dealership filed a restraining order against Ruffino in civil court to prevent him from retrieving the vehicle.
When contacted by an investigator from the City of Burlington Police Department and asked why he failed to provide full payment, Ruffino allegedly said, “Stuff came up. I got busy at work.”
The complaint contends that he wrote 24 checks after the bank account was closed, including checks of $59,222 and $14,026 to separate car dealerships in Illinois.
A pre-sentence investigation into Ruffino’s situation has been ordered.
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