Swansea Car Dealership Owner Sentenced to Prison in Fall River 2026

Key Points

• Edward Cicciu, aged 48, from Attleboro was sentenced at Fall River Superior Court after pleading guilty on 120 criminal charges relating to an old Bristol County Auto Exchange in Swansea.
• This case consisted of 125 charges, with at least 47 victims in the age range of 18-80.
• Cicciu was ordered four to six years in state prison with credit for 694 days served.
• Five years of probation was also imposed, along with restitution of $340,380.76 to the victims, amounting to approximately $5,673 monthly.
• Conditions of probation required abstinence from drugs and alcohol use, drug screening tests, and non-involvement in auto sales industry.
• According to prosecutors, Cicciu was involved in setting up automobile loans, selling automobiles to customers, utilizing counterfeit New Jersey temporary plates and registration, failing to satisfy loan repayments or providing title.
• Some customers received bounced refund checks, did not get their cars, while others got their cars repossessed from the dealership lot.
• Prior to this case, Cicciu was charged for larceny and was serving probation.
• Larceny by false pretenses, forgery or misuse of RMV document, failure to provide titles, larceny by cheque, and larceny of motor vehicles were some of the charges.

Swansea (Wales Times) November 7, 2026 — A former uk/local/swansea/">Swansea used-car dealer has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to charges arising from a scheme in which customers paid for vehicles but allegedly did not receive clear titles, valid registrations, or, in some cases, the vehicles themselves.

Edward Cicciu, 48, of Attleboro, was sentenced on Friday in Fall River Superior Court to not less than four years and not more than six years in state prison. He received credit for 694 days already served and was ordered to serve five years of probation after release, according to court records reported by Fall River Reporter.

As reported by Fall River Reporter, Cicciu was also ordered to pay $340,380.76 in restitution to victims, through monthly payments of $5,673. He is prohibited from working in automotive sales.

What Charges Did Edward Cicciu Plead Guilty To?

Cicciu pleaded guilty to 120 criminal counts, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and reporting by MassLive, WPRI 12, and Turn to 10. The original case involved 125 charges, which prosecutors said related to 47 victims.

The charges included:

• 43 counts of larceny over $1,200 by false pretences.
• 38 counts of failure to deliver a title upon transfer of a motor vehicle.
• 37 counts of forging or misusing a Registry of Motor Vehicles document.
• Five counts of larceny of a motor vehicle.
• Two counts of larceny by cheque over $1,200.

As reported by The Herald News, the 125 counts involved 47 victims, most of them customers of the former Bristol County Auto Exchange at 2388 GAR Highway in Swansea.

How Did the Alleged Dealership Scheme Work?

According to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Cicciu owned and operated Bristol County Auto Exchange, Inc., a used-car dealership in Swansea. Prosecutors alleged that he used financing companies to obtain loans to buy vehicles at auctions and place them for sale at the dealership.

Customers paid Cicciu for vehicles. He then told them that titles and registrations would be provided within a few days, according to the District Attorney’s account reported by Fall River Reporter.

Instead, prosecutors alleged, Cicciu printed false New Jersey temporary vehicle plates and registrations and gave them to customers. After receiving payment, he allegedly did not pay off the loans on the vehicles as he had said he would and did not obtain titles.

What Happened When Customers Asked for Titles?

When customers asked about their vehicle titles, Cicciu eventually stopped responding, according to the account reported by Fall River Reporter.

The District Attorney’s Office alleged that Cicciu provided customers with bad cheques when they returned vehicles because of mechanical or safety issues. Some customers never received vehicles after making payment, while other vehicles were taken from customers who had not been paid, or went missing from the dealership lot.

The Herald News reported that the case involved victims who had bought vehicles from the dealership or entrusted vehicles to it.

Who Were the Victims in the Case?

The Commonwealth identified at least 47 victims, whose ages ranged from 18 to 80, according to Fall River Reporter and WPRI 12.

The Boston Globe reported that, while on probation, Cicciu cannot work in auto sales, must remain drug- and alcohol-free, and must submit to drug screening.

The restitution order requires Cicciu to pay $340,380.76 to victims. Fall River Reporter reported that the payments are to be made at $5,673 per month.

What Sentence Did the Court Impose?

Cicciu was sentenced to between four and six years in state prison, followed by five years of probation, according to WPRI 12, MassLive, and Turn to 10.

Fall River Reporter reported that court records showed Cicciu received credit for 694 days already served.

The sentence also includes a prohibition on working in automotive sales, according to WPRI 12 and The Boston Globe.

Was Cicciu Already on Probation?

Yes. According to Fall River Reporter, Cicciu had a history of larceny offences and was on probation at the time of the offences connected with the dealership.

The report did not provide further details about the earlier offences or the terms of the prior probation.

When Was Cicciu First Arraigned?

Cicciu was arraigned in Fall River Superior Court in April 2025 on the 125 charges, according to Fall River Reporter.

At that time, the court ordered him held on $100,000 cash bail, Fall River Reporter reported.

Boston 25 News reported in April 2025 that Cicciu, then aged 46, had been arraigned on the charges and that prosecutors alleged he used finance companies to obtain loans for vehicles bought at auction and then placed them on sale at his dealership.

What Did Prosecutors Say About the Case?

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said Cicciu was the owner and operator of Bristol County Auto Exchange, Inc., according to Fall River Reporter.

The District Attorney’s account, as reported by Fall River Reporter, said Cicciu used financing companies to obtain loans for vehicles bought at auctions, placed those vehicles on his lot for sale, and accepted customer payments.

Prosecutors alleged that, after receiving payment, Cicciu did not pay off the loans or obtain titles for the vehicles.

What Did Local Media Report About the Sentencing?

Turn to 10 reported that Swansea police and Bristol County prosecutors said on Friday that the former owner of a used-car dealership had been sentenced to prison in a fraud scheme.

The outlet reported that Cicciu pleaded guilty to 120 criminal counts in Fall River Superior Court, was sentenced to four to six years in state prison, and was ordered to pay $340,380.76 in restitution.

MassLive reported that Cicciu, a 48-year-old Attleboro resident, pleaded guilty on Friday to 120 criminal counts and was sentenced to four to six years in prison, with restitution of $340,380.

WPRI 12 reported that Cicciu was prohibited from working in auto sales ever again.

The Herald News reported that about 20 people, including victims and members of Cicciu’s family, were in the courtroom during sentencing.

Background of the Development

Bristol County Auto Exchange was a used-car dealership in Swansea, Massachusetts. Prosecutors alleged that Cicciu used financing companies to obtain loans to purchase vehicles at auctions, then sold those vehicles to customers while failing to settle the underlying loans or provide valid titles.

The allegations led to 125 charges covering larceny, document forgery or misuse, failure to deliver titles, and vehicle-related theft. The case was arraigned in April 2025, and Cicciu was held on $100,000 cash bail at that stage.

The sentencing follows Cicciu’s guilty pleas to 120 counts. The court imposed a prison term, probation, restitution, and a ban on future work in automotive sales.

Prediction: How This May Affect Used-Car Buyers

For used-car buyers in Massachusetts and nearby areas, the case may increase awareness of the importance of verifying ownership, outstanding loans, title status, and registration documents before completing a purchase.

Buyers may be more likely to insist on written proof that a dealer has cleared any financing on a vehicle, obtain the title before or promptly after payment, and avoid relying solely on temporary plates or verbal assurances. The case may also encourage customers to retain receipts, contracts, vehicle identification numbers, and records of communications with dealers.

For legitimate dealers, the sentencing may reinforce the need for clear documentation, accurate loan payoff procedures, and timely title transfers. For victims and prospective customers, the restitution order provides a formal route for repayment, although the practical timing and completion of those monthly payments will depend on Cicciu’s ability to pay after release.