Marietta police say a local man is facing charges after investigators allege he spent at least two years quietly rolling back odometers, then flipping those cars for padded prices. Detectives believe more buyers may have unknowingly driven off in tampered vehicles and are urging anyone who bought a car from the seller to dig into their paperwork and contact investigators.
As reported by 11Alive, Marietta police identified the suspect as Albert Constantin and said he is charged in the case. Investigators allege Constantin altered odometers before selling vehicles so that buyers paid more than the cars were actually worth. The department has asked anyone who purchased a vehicle from Constantin to pull a Carfax report, compare the mileage entries with the car’s odometer and maintenance records, and contact police if anything looks off.
How investigators say the scheme worked
NHTSA explains that odometer fraud can involve resetting or swapping out instrument clusters or tinkering with paperwork so a vehicle’s title shows an artificially low mileage. Those tricks can help a seller command a higher price. Detectives say that while digital rollbacks are tougher to spot at a glance, they tend to leave clues in service records, title histories and vehicle‑history reports. Buyers are advised to line up odometer readings against maintenance stickers, inspection documents and any prior reports tied to the vehicle’s VIN.
Legal consequences and precedent
Federal authorities have gone after large odometer schemes in Georgia and other states, and the Department of Justice has prosecuted a dealer in a multi‑vehicle case that ended in a guilty plea and possible prison time for the defendant. In complex rollback operations, prosecutors can file both civil and criminal actions, and courts have ordered fines and restitution in prior cases. The Department of Justice maintains resources for victims and for investigators working odometer tampering complaints.
What to do if you bought a vehicle
If you believe you purchased a clocked vehicle from the person named by police, pull a full vehicle‑history report (Carfax or a similar service) and compare all reported mileages to the current odometer reading and any documented service work. For local reporting and next steps, contact the Marietta Police Department’s non‑emergency dispatch at 770‑499‑3911 or the department front desk at 770‑794‑5300, or visit the Marietta Police Department website for reporting instructions. For larger or multi‑vehicle schemes you can also reach out to federal resources and hotlines described by NHTSA.
Detectives say the investigation is still active and that detailed records from buyers will help strengthen the case. We will update this story as official filings, additional charges, court dates or new information from investigators become available.
