3 execs, 81 cars missing from Neb. dealership
SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. -- Some of the dozens of new cars that vanished from a Nebraska car dealership have turned up in other states and warrants have been issued for three missing executives, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
The 81 Fords and Toyotas taken from Legacy Auto Sales were valued at about $2.5 million.
Employee Miranda Cervantes told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald she returned to work Tuesday after a day off and found the lot was virtually empty.
Cervantes said Fords had been loaded on trucks and removed Saturday and Toyotas were taken away Monday night. And she said the desks of the dealership owner and two managers had been cleaned out.
Scotts Bluff County chief deputy attorney John Childress said seven of the cars were found Wednesday at an auto auction in Utah. Others were found in Arizona, but he didn't know the number.
Childress said warrants had been issued for owner Allen Patch, controller Rachel Fait and general manager Rick Covello, who are wanted on suspicion of theft.
The prosecutor said most of the missing cars were Toyotas but he didn't have an exact number.
A spokesman for Toyota Financing in California said the Toyotas at the dealership belong to his company.
Police Capt. Kevin Spencer said the dealership has had financial difficulties.
Despite the missing new cars and executives, Legacy Auto Sales remained open Wednesday. Cervantes said used cars were left on the lot.
Scottsbluff is in western Nebraska, 450 miles west of Omaha.
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