A former Cape Girardeau car salesman faces felony theft charges for allegedly stealing from dealership customers and lying to them about promotions, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

Aaron Alfred Evans, 48, of Bertrand, Mo., is charged with three counts of stealing by deceit and is suspected of "using various lies to trick three victims into giving him money," Swingle said.

Auffenburg Chrysler, where Evans worked at the time of the incidents, is blameless in the situation and reported the thefts to police, Swingle said.

The alleged scams involved false claims to Auffenburg customers that the dealership was conducting a promotional special where they could pay several payments up front, and the business would make the remaining payments.

One of the victims said was informed by Evans that he would make all payments for one year if she paid him $1,150, according to a probable-cause statement by Detective Shawn Davis.

Another victim agreed to pay $1,268.20 for the first four payments, with the understanding the company would make the next eight payments, the statement said.

"His lies induced her to part with her money," Swingle said.

In a third scam, Evans allegedly had a customer place a $500 down payment on a vehicle at Auffenburg, then a few days later informed her she had not passed the credit approval for the necessary loan, and her money would be refunded.

He never refunded the money, she told police.

"The scams used by this defendant sounded believable because of all the well-publicized real promotions offered by various car dealers during these uncertain economic times," Swingle said.

The ruse was actually the first police have seen in Cape Girardeau in which someone appeared to have preyed on insecurities fueled by the economy, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the police department.

"A scammer will use whatever is hot or believable to trick people into giving them money," Hovis said.

If convicted, Evans could face up to 21 years in prison.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash only.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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