By MATT THACKER
Matt.Thacker@newsandtribune.com
JEFFERSONVILLE —
A Salem man who operated the now-vacant Dixon Motors in Clarksville was charged Wednesday with theft, fraud and failing to provide titles to vehicles he sold. Police allege he was selling vehicles he did not own.
Jeremy Dixon, 34, was first reported to the Indiana State Police on July 14 by James Joyce, owner of Interstate 65 Truck Sales. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Joyce made Dixon an agent of his company May 6 and allowed him to have access to $100,000 of his account to purchase vehicles.
During that time, Dixon wrote bad checks to Manheim Automotive Financial Services for $7,831 and $4,209, according to the affidavit. Joyce reportedly had to pay $88,680 to Manheim Fort Wayne auto auction for vehicles sold by Dixon Motors that had not been paid for. Dixon also was suspected of forging Joyce’s name on two Indiana titles for the purpose of selling them to customers.
Detectives have been in contact with 12 alleged victims who have purchased a vehicle from Dixon Motors since May and have never received the title and one who only received the title a month after purchasing the vehicle.
Dawn Schaerer said she bought a 2005 Honda Civic on July 8. She picked up the car July 13 and was told to return in a week to receive the title.
“He told me to come the next week, and he would have the title then,” Schaerer said. “When I went back, the car lot was closed.”
ISP Detective Tom Meneou investigated the complaints about the titles and learned Dixon did not own the vehicles he was selling. Some were obtained from car auctions on a lease deal and some from other car dealers who arranged for delivery of the titles once they were paid, according to an ISP news release.
Schaerer contacted police and filed a report. She said not having the title has created many problems for her. She paid in full for the vehicle but has been unable to register it in her name.
She had to go through the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to extend her temporary tags and is going through the process of applying for a new title.
Schaerer and at least one other person have filed small-claims lawsuits against Dixon.
Most of the victims said they were told the title would be given to them shortly, but it never was. The victims include one man who worked for Dixon Motors and purchased a vehicle from the dealer May 24 but never received a title.
Dixon Motors, which was located at 5721 U.S. 31, is actually registered under the name of Dixon’s wife, Julie. She said she was not involved in the day-to-day operations, and she only found out in late July that the dealership was in serious financial trouble. She is not facing any charges.
Dixon is charged in Clark County Circuit Court with class C felony theft, two counts of class D felony check fraud and 13 counts of class B misdemeanor failure to provide title to a vehicle.
A class C felony carries a possible sentence of two to eight years and a $10,000 fine; a class D felony six months to three years and a $10,000 fine; and a class B misdemeanor up to 180 days and a $1,000 fine.
The phone number to the dealership has been disconnected, and Dixon’s personal phone number is unlisted.
ISP troopers arrested Dixon at his residence without incident at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. Anyone who has purchased a vehicle from Dixon Motors, which opened in April, and has not received a title should contact ISP at 812-246-5424 and speak to Detective Tom Meneou.
