Politics & Government

Meth Bust Suspect Back in Court on Motorcycle Sales Fraud Charges

Francesco "Frank" Messina, 43, of Upper Gwynedd, is headed to county trial for allegedly bilking three people out of a motorcycle or a refund

An Upper Gwynedd man headed to trial for allegedly helping to run a multicounty organized methamphetamine ring was in court again, this time for numerous alleged fraudulent motorcycle sales.

Francesco “Frank” Messina, 43, of the 600 block of Garfield Avenue, West Point, is charged with six counts of felony theft by deception and two counts of felony deceptive business practices, according to Dan Sokil of The Reporter.

According to the article, Messina waived his hearing Thursday at Lansdale District Court. There, Messina, talked to alleged victims on how to make up for lost money or bikes, according to the article.

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According to the article, a man reported a possible theft to Lansdale Police on March 20 related to the sale of a Harley-Davidson Sportster in Summer 2001.

Messina agreed to a price of $3,700, according to the article, and the alleged victim made a payment of $1,000 cash and agreed to monthly payments.

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The alleged victim reported that a member of Messina’s family told him that the bike was not for sale, according to the article. The alleged victim was also told that $3,700 was less than the amount spent on repairs and upgrades to the bike, according to the article.

A second alleged victim reported to police in April that he tried to buy a motorcycle for about $2,400 in 2011 from Messina, and was told from a second party that the bike was purchased by someone else, according to the article.

A third alleged victim contacted police in June and reported he gave Messina $2,200 in Summer 2011 for a bike, but was told by a second party that more work was needed on the bike and it was sold to someone else, according to the article.

Messina allegedly agreed to sell the same Vento motorcycle to two different people at the same time, according to the article. Allegedly, Messina either never delivered on the bike or never refunded the money, according to the article.

According to court records, a county arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m.

Bail was set July 19 for $10,000 unsecured at the preliminary arraignment, according to court records.


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