Buying your dream car should be an exciting experience, especially after years of saving. For pastor Mark Moore, however, what began as a long-awaited purchase turned into a nightmare involving a Cleveland Cadillac dealership, a questionable vehicle title, and an unexpected repossession.
According to Moore’s Facebook post and an interview with Cleveland’s WKYC Channel 3, he traveled to Ohio in January 2024 to purchase a used Mercedes-Benz from Central Cadillac. He put down $30,000, financed another $58,931.87, and drove home believing he’d finally secured the car he’d worked so hard to afford.
For more than two years, everything appeared normal, with Moore keeping the vehicle registered and maintained, as well as paying his loan on time. Then, on March 31, 2026, he woke up to discover that his Mercedes had disappeared from his driveway.
What initially looked like a theft turned out to be something much stranger. He claims Mercedes-Benz Financial Services had repossessed the vehicle over an outstanding debt belonging to a previous owner, leaving Moore without his dream car but still responsible for his own loan.
How Did A Car With A Bad Title Reach A Dealership?
According to Moore, the Mercedes was connected to an earlier financing agreement with an outstanding balance of approximately $106,000. He says that fraudulent paperwork allowed the vehicle to change hands despite that debt.
Central Cadillac general manager Christopher Studor told Cleveland television station WKYC that the dealership purchased the vehicle from another dealer in Bedford, Ohio, with what appeared to be a clean title. Studor said the dealership subsequently learned that the Mercedes was connected to a vehicle theft ring under federal investigation.
The suspected scheme involved moving vehicle titles between states to remove evidence of existing liens, a practice commonly known as title washing. In this case, the paperwork made the Mercedes appear free of financial obligations when it wasn’t.
The Pastor Wants His Money Back
Moore says he has continued making loan payments despite being without the car for approximately six months. After unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute privately, he took his complaint public on Facebook.
He wants his $30,000 down payment returned and the remaining financing obligation cleared. In total, the original transaction amounted to $88,931.87, and Moore insists he isn’t seeking punitive damages or additional compensation.
The pastor has also criticized the dealership’s handling of the situation, including what he described as dismissive responses from a sales manager during a Facebook livestream. Those allegations reflect Moore’s account of the interaction.
Dealership Says It Was Scammed Too
Central Cadillac maintains that it is also a victim of the fraud. Studor told WKYC that the dealership had filed an insurance claim and was working toward a resolution, although he could not provide a timeline.
The dealership also said the matter had been referred to its legal team and that it had shared relevant information with Moore’s attorney. Meanwhile, Moore argues that he shouldn’t have to wait for the dealership’s insurance claim to be settled before receiving compensation.
The dispute is still unresolved, with Moore continuing to seek reimbursement for a vehicle he no longer possesses. His experience serves as a reminder that even a seemingly clean vehicle title doesn’t always tell the whole story.