Wind Advisory
from SAT 12:00 PM MST until SAT 10:00 PM MST, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties including Hannagan Meadow, Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains including Mount Graham, Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee/Canelo Hills/Madera Canyon, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Kofa, Central La Paz, Aguila Valley, Southeast Yuma County, Gila River Valley, Northwest Valley, Tonopah Desert, Gila Bend, Buckeye/Avondale, Cave Creek/New River, Deer Valley, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale, New River Mesa, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, East Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Superior, Northwest Pinal County, West Pinal County, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Tonto Basin, Mazatzal Mountains, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Dripping Springs, Globe/Miami, Southeast Gila County

Phoenix man accused of keeping cash from used car sales, selling bogus warranties

A man has been arrested after he allegedly sold bogus warranties pocketed cash from used cars sales in Phoenix.

The Arizona Department of Transportation says 31-year-old Eduardo Rodriguez, an employee at several used car dealerships in the Phoenix area, would sell cars to customers and keep the cash, instead of turning it into his employers.

"He worked at one place, then he'd quit and leave, and then go work somewhere else," said Ryan Harding with ADOT. "After he departed, that’s when the dealership would go through paperwork and realize something's not adding up here."

According to ADOT detectives, three different car dealerships all filed separate fraud complaints against Rodriguez, and in February, he was indicted on nine felony counts, including theft, fraud, and forgery.

"He was selling customers bogus warranty policies," said Harding. "He would sell the same car to multiple people, pocketing the cash."

Eduardo Rodriguez (lower left)

Eduardo Rodriguez (lower left)

ADOT officials say Rodriguez was arrested after its detectives learned he bought a car from one of the dealerships he worked for and financed it. A few days after buying the car, Rodriguez allegedly privately sold it.

"Because Rodriguez defaulted on the loan, his former employee was required to buy it back," ADOT said.

Rodriguez is accused of fraud, theft and forgery.

"Generally speaking, when it comes to buying a used vehicle from a used vehicle either from a used car dealer or in a private sale, ADOT recommends taking time and asking lots of questions and doing your research," ADOT said. "There are no dumb questions in a big purchase like this. If the seller is acting suspiciously, being evasive or uncooperative, walk away."

ADOT car buying tips: azdot.gov/CarBuyingTips

More Arizona crime news

Tune in to FOX 10 Phoenix for the latest news:

SIGN UP FOR FOX 10 PHOENIX EMAIL ALERTS