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AG Investigates dealer who ran away from 5 On Your Side cameras

In a petition filed this week, the Attorney General alleges the couple sold 31 cars without titles and pocketed close to $500,000 in sales.
Credit: Clancy, Samuel

ST. LOUIS - The I-Team uncovered new details about an auto dealership that sold cars without titles. Driven Auto Sales is now being investigated by the Missouri Attorney General's office.

Since we broke this story, dozens of former customers told us they, too, can't get their title.

Now, one Wentzville man said not only is he missing his title, but Driven Auto Sales sold his truck and pocketed the cash.

"I've been looking for a truck like this for a long time," said Patrick, who asked us not to use his last name.

Patrick purchased a 2014 GMC Sierra from Driven Auto Sales in early February. He said he got a good deal and had no idea there were any issues with the dealership.

But just a few weeks after he drove it off the Driven Auto Sales lot, Patrick still couldn't get a title.

And after seeing our reports on Driven Auto Sales, and owner Eric Carmack running away from our cameras, Patrick said he realized he could have a bigger problem.

"It may not be my truck," said Patrick.

It may not be his truck much longer because it technically still may belong to another man.

"I'm still making payments on the truck. The guy who bought the truck is making payments," said Brian Dawson of Wentzville.

Dawson said he owned the truck for more than a year before asking Carmack to sell it for him on consignment.

"I had developed a trust with him so I took that truck to him and asked him to sell the truck for me or buy it," said Dawson.

That was in December.

For months Dawson said he didn't hear much from Carmack. And one day, after seeing our report, he noticed his truck wasn't on the Driven Auto Sales lot anymore.

But Dawson also said he never got a penny from the sale.

"He was supposed to call so I could sign the title. But he'd already taken the title to the bank at that point," said Dawson.

In fact, Dawson said he only found out where the truck ended up after putting a public appeal on Facebook.

Now, both men are making payments on the same truck, and neither has a title for it.

They said Carmack's bank, Heritage Bank, is still holding it.

As for Carmack, Heritage Bank recently got approval from a judge to seize all the remaining cars at his dealership because they said they haven't been getting their cut from Carmack.

It's now a problem both men are waiting for the courts, and department of revenue to sort out.

"It may revert back to the previous owner. My problem is my credit union will want their money," said Patrick.

The Carmacks will appear back in court next week, this time to face tough questions from the attorney general's office.

In a petition filed this week, the Attorney General alleges the couple sold 31 cars without titles and pocketed close to $500,000 in sales.

They're accused of four counts of deceptive and fraudulent business practices.

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