Providence Car Dealer Sentenced 15 Months For Odometer Fraud

Pablo Beato, a 53-year-old unlicensed used car dealer in Providence, Rhode Island, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution for selling 42 vehicles with tampered odometers that showed lower mileage than actual. Beato pleaded no contest to charges including conspiracy to tamper with odometers, conspiracy to obtain money under false pretenses, and conspiracy to commit forgery, with the fraudulent sales occurring between 2018 and 2021. The investigation began in early 2020 after the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles reported forged certificates of title, leading state police to discover Beato’s dealership lacked proper licensing and had moved from a commercial location to his residence. Authorities traced the odometer rollback scheme to Beato’s use of Facebook and Craigslist to sell the vehicles, and he was also sentenced to 15 years of probation following his prison term. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha emphasized the office’s commitment to prosecuting deceptive trade practices to protect consumers from fraudulent activities. Additional individuals have been charged in connection with the scheme, highlighting ongoing efforts to address such criminal conduct.