Authorities say a New York man is in the Blair County Prison after trying to steal two vehicles by scamming a Duncansville car dealership.
According to the Allegheny Township Police Department, 31-year-old David Lobzhanidze, of Brooklyn, faces charges related to criminal conspiracy, identity theft and theft by deception.
Police say they were called to Blue Knob Auto Sales March 22 to speak to officials there who told officers they believed they’d been scammed by someone who bought a vehicle from them.
They told police that the same person, who was claiming to be a person named Harry Lee, had just been approved for a loan to buy a second vehicle from them.
Dealership officials say the so-called Harry Lee was supposedly born in the 1940s, but the picture on his license appeared to be a man in his 20s.
Police say they followed up with Blue Knob finance and found that the funds for the 2020 Toyota Highlander were fully funded in the amount of $42,594.64.
Officials with the dealership say, after being approved for the second loan, the man contacted them and claimed he was sending a driver to pick up the second vehicle.
Police say Lobzhanidze showed up to pickup the vehicle, a 2020 Lexus RX worth $47,008, and that’s when officers made the arrest.
