Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin today announced that Dino Coccia, age 43, with a last known address of 15 Angell Road, North Providence, pleaded guilty to 60 counts of obtaining money under false pretenses, three counts of issuance of bad checks, four counts of unlawful appropriation, and one count of larceny
Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel sentenced Coccia to a total of 20 years, with three to serve on home confinement and the remainder suspended with probation. Coccia was also ordered to pay in excess $210,000 in total restitution, $30,000 of which he paid today.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that during 2011 and 2012, Coccia engaged in an elaborate scheme to defraud 70 customers of his auto body repair and used car business, Americar Sales and Collision Center located at 626 Main St., Pawtucket.
Among the offenses, Coccia would promise to repair motor vehicles involved in accidents and serve as a go-between for the customer and insurance company. Instead, Coccia used the insurance money for his own benefit without repairing the customers' vehicles. In addition, Coccia took deposits for the sale of motor vehicles which he did not own, and when pressured by some of the individuals to return their deposits, he wrote checks on a closed account.
Pawtucket Police Detective Alan Mal led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General Ron Gendron prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.