Man Stole Antique Cars [from] Client for Four Years

Pix11: Man Stole Antique Cars [from] Client for Four Years

MINEOLA, N.Y. (PIX11)— A classic car repairman has been charged with grand larceny for stealing three 1930’s cars, selling them, and keeping the money, said Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice Thursday.

Joseph Simeona, 71, of Torrington, Conn., owned a Glen Cove business called Simeone Classic cars, Inc. The store would repair and restore antique cars.

Between October 1997 and November 2010, Simeone stole three classic cars and cash from a client that totaled more than $250,000. The cars included a 1934 Ford Roaster, a 1936 Ford Phaeton, and a 1939 Ford Cabriolet convertible.

After Simeone sold the vehicles he would put a tarp over similar sized vehicles and fool the owner into thinking they were the real thing. These fake shells were kept in difficult to reach parts of the garage. Simeone also painted half of each fake car in case anyone wanted to verify the vehicle.

Simeone also continued to charge the client for using his garage for storage until 2010 even though the cars had been sold.

The client he stole from had been bringing Simeone business since the mid-1990s.

A private investigator realized what was going on in 2010 after being hired by the client to check on his vehicles.

“This defendant was playing a literal shell game to hide his crimes, dupe his victim, and pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cash,” Rice said. “Thanks to the work of the members of my office’s Auto Theft and Fraud Unit, Mr. Simeone will not be able to hide any longer.”

If convicted, Simeone could face up to 15 years in prison, said Rice.