LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — When Terri Webb bought a vehicle to help get her mother-in-law to the doctor, she never expected it would turn into a title nightmare costing her thousands of dollars.
Webb is one of at least 16 victims of a Kentucky auto dealership accused of selling vehicles they didn't pay for to unsuspecting victims.
In October 2025, Webb bought an SUV from Richardson Auto Mart in Bardstown for $3,600. The family spent an additional $2,000 for repairs on the vehicle purchased to help her sister-in-law get Webb's mother-in-law to appointments with her doctors.
Webb said there were no red flags when they bought the car from the dealership.
"My husband went and looked at it first, and he drove it. It drove out good and she was, they gave me all the paperwork," she said.
One piece of paperwork Webb didn't get was the vehicle's title.
"I've called the dealership over and over," she said. "I've stopped there many times. Every time, it was a different reason why she couldn't get me a title."
Webb said it feels like she's been scammed.
"Absolutely, absolutely. We don't have that money to just throw away," she said. "... It's been a nightmare, it really has."
Richardson Auto Mart, on New Haven Road, is now an empty lot. All that's left is a gravel parking lot and an office building. A sign on the front door says "We buy cars, buy here, pay here."
According to police, Webb is one of at least 16 victims who bought a car from the dealership and never got the title.
"Every single day, there seems to be a new victim," said Det. Keegan Kirkpatrick, with the Nelson County Sheriff's Office.
Kirkpatrick said investigating this case has become a full-time job.
"Right now, I have 16 victims that I know about," he said. "Single mothers, elderly victims."
A list from the sheriff's office shows the dealership sold all of the cars for under $8,000.
"This Richardson Auto Mart, they've gone to multiple auctions in different states, Kentucky and Indiana, and they've acquired these vehicles. They brought these back to Bardstown and sold them to unsuspecting victims," Kirkpatrick said. "They're wondering why they can't get their titles. That's because the Richardsons never paid these places. They either wrote cold checks or they didn't pay."
There's now a warrant out in Boone County, Indiana, for the arrest of the dealership's owner, George Richardson, on two counts of theft. According to court records, Richardson has been arrested five times in Kentucky dating back to 2004 on various charges, including domestic violence assault, theft and traffic violations.
"I know five of six auction houses they've done this to," said Kirkpatrick. "Indianapolis has been a big one. I know 10 vehicles they acquired and brought here and sold and never paid for."
Court records show the Indianapolis Car Exchange sold cars to Richardson, who wrote nearly $48,000 worth of checks that all bounced.
"A lot of good people have been put in a bad spot because of the Richardsons," Kirkpatrick said.
Records from the Kentucky Secretary of State show Richardson Auto Mart LLC is inactive and in bad standing.
While the case remains under investigation, Kirkpatrick said he wants to talk to the Richardsons again.
"I would say theft by deception. Those are probably the charges we're looking at," he said. "Essentially, they sold property they never had a right to sell because they never purchased these cars."
In an exchange over the phone, Richardson told WDRB he still owns the business, which he said shut down because they were "tired of messing with" the titles.
"We're working on it, or trying to get 'em," Richardson said. "We shut down because we're tired of messing with it."
When asked if he'd paid for the cars, Richardson said "No, there ain't no check out there."
"You can talk to my wife and she'll explain it to you," he continued.
WDRB asked him to clarify.
"We're trying to work on it, very credible," he said. "We've been in business for five years and never had no problems, never."
Richardson's wife has not yet responded to a request for comment.
"Obviously, we're going to have to go through the court process and we're going to hold the Richardsons accountable," Kirkpatrick said. "As far as these titles, I honestly don't know how these victims are going to get their titles."
Some victims told WDRB that because they don't have a title, their cars were taken away after they were pulled over. Other victims, who are single parents, said they relied on the transportation but were dropped by their insurance companies because they don't have a title.
"Clark County (Auto) Auction in Indiana, as far as I know, they're the only ones in Indiana that have already turned it over to the insurance company," Kirkpatrick said.
Clark County Auto Auction is not commenting on the investigation.
Victims said the Richardsons were issuing several temporary tags for their cars. But according to Kentucky law, a motor vehicle dealer can only issue one 60-day temporary license plate for each vehicle.
Webb said the Richardsons issued her four temporary plates. The latest one expired May 13. She was able to track down the auction house that was still waiting to be paid by the dealership.
"The only way to get this cleared up and to get a title, I had to give Pulaski County Auto Auction another $2,000," she said.
Webb said that amount was lower than the amount the Richardsons were supposed to pay for the car because she was able to work it out with the auction house.
"I just want them to know how bad they hurt people when they act like that," she said.
Investigators say other victims should file a complaint with the Kentucky Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, here, or reach out to the Nelson County Sheriff's Office.
The Kentucky Attorney General's Office told WDRB Investigates, "Our Office has received complaints on the business, and we are aware of the concerns raised."
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