Texas Hot Rod Shop Owner Learns Fate After Stealing Customers’ Classic Cars By Christina Coulter

A former hot rod shop owner in Texas who defrauded customers under the guise of car restoration has learned his fate.

Richard Thomas Finley was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Jan. 6, 2026, after a jury found him guilty of felony theft, according to a statement from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force.

Investigators said the case stemmed from a lengthy probe into Finley’s business practices at his shop — Classic American Street Rods — which resulted in the recovery of 24 classic vehicles and numerous vehicle parts equating to more than $2 million in stolen property.

The court also ordered Finley to pay $495,000 in restitution to victims, the statement read.

In a separate statement reviewed by ABC13, the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office said Finley ran a theft and fraud scheme out of his custom car restoration shop in the San Leon-Bacliff area, where customers entrusted him with prized classic vehicles for restoration work that was never completed.

Finley allegedly advertised services that included “engine swaps,” promising to upgrade older vehicles with modern engines that were less expensive to maintain.

According to investigators, customers paid large sums upfront but were later given false updates or no information at all about the status of their cars.

The investigation ultimately identified 72 victims, authorities said. During the jury trial, 28 victims testified, describing how months — and in some cases years — passed without progress on their vehicles after they had already paid Finley significant deposits, according to prosecutors.

Investigators said Finley not only failed to complete the promised work, but also stole parts from customers’ vehicles and sold them to other buyers. More than 20 classic cars were recovered during the investigation and returned to their owners, authorities said.

The jury returned its guilty verdict on Dec. 19, 2025, convicting Finley of theft of property valued at $300,000 or more — a first-degree felony under Texas law.

Finley elected to be sentenced by the court rather than a jury, and Judge Jeth Jones of the 122nd District Court imposed the 60-year sentence.

The Gulf Coast Auto Crimes Task Force said the case highlights its ongoing efforts to pursue complex auto-theft investigations and hold offenders accountable.

According to Chron, Finley has appealed his sentence. The local Houston outlet also reported that investigators served a search warrant in June 2023 at a storage facility tied to Finley in Dickinson as part of the case.