A man in Las Vegas has pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to selling cars without a dealership license. Russell Ricafort, 41, was apprehended by Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on July 2, 2017. He faced 56 counts, including unlicensed dealership activity and forgery.
Ricafort reached a settlement with the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. He pleaded guilty to forgery, a Category B felony, agreeing to three to five years of probation and restitution payments to the state. His formal sentencing is scheduled for February 12, 2019, in Clark County District Court.
Ricafort had worked as a dealership salesman until his license was denied by the Nevada DMV in 2009. He then began acquiring vehicles at dealer auctions and sold them through Craigslist and on empty lot corners in Clark County. Often he claimed ownership of a fictional dealership called Aloha Auto Sales.
In 2015, Ricafort received a cease-and-desist order from the DMV's Compliance Enforcement Division but continued his sales activities. The DMV blocked the registration and titling of vehicles he sold until buyers paid appropriate taxes and fees.
An undercover purchase by the DMV led to two more arrests: Oscar Rodriguez, owner of OS’CARS Auto Sales, and Drago Zlatar, an employee there. They allegedly forged DMV documents to make it appear that OS’CARS had sold one of Ricafort’s vehicles. Both were arrested on June 19, 2017, facing charges of forgery and conspiracy.
Joseph (J.D.) Decker from Nevada DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division emphasized consumer protection as a priority: “Our officers work diligently to ensure that Nevada’s laws are enforced to maintain a fair marketplace for everyone.”
Nevada law mandates that anyone selling more than three personally-owned vehicles per year must obtain a dealer license. Licensed dealers perform vehicle inspections and emissions testing before sales and collect sales tax for the state.
Decker advised consumers purchasing cars from private sellers to ensure they receive a title and complete a Bill of Sale with identification verification.