A Florida man who ran an antique car restoration business in Macedon has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for defrauding customers out of more than $2.5 million, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Monday.
51-year-old Clark Rittersbach, of Cape Coral, was sentenced to 24 months by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
Prosecutors say Rittersbach owned Concours Classic Motor Cars, a business that restored and sold antique vehicles. Because many projects required years of work and involved long-distance or international clients, customers often relied on Rittersbach’s word about progress on their vehicles.
Between 2018 and April 2022, Rittersbach repeatedly misled customers—often through emails and text messages—by claiming that work had been completed when it had not, Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford said. He used those false updates to obtain large payments while stalling clients long enough to finish the work later.
In one example, prosecutors say Rittersbach falsely told a customer that a Duesenberg engine restoration was finished and sent a $25,000 invoice, prompting the victim to wire the money. In another case, he overstated progress on a 1964 Porsche to secure payment for work not yet completed.
In total, victims lost approximately $2.54 million.
The FBI, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, conducted the investigation.
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