From the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office
Investigators with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division are asking for the public’s help in identifying additional persons who may have been victimized in a multi-county fraud conspiracy.
Virgil Garrett, 64, and his son Noah Garrett, 27, have been charged with obtaining property by false pretense and felony conversion, for allegedly obtaining commercial vehicles and heavy equipment through rental agreements and then fraudulently selling them to buyers across western North Carolina. These buyers were allegedly convinced by this father-son duo they had a legal right to sell this equipment. Investigators believe this fraudulent practice has been occurring for several months or longer.
Noah Garrett is currently held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under a $750,000 secure bond. Virgil Garrett is currently held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under a $600,000 secure bond.
“We are confident there are more victims out there who have not yet come forward” said, Sergeant Stobbe, lead investigator in the case. “If you or someone you know has been deceived by these individuals, we strongly urge you to contact our office. Even if you didn’t realize you were a victim at the time, we want to hear from you.”
Multiple charges are pending against the Garretts. Investigators are working to identify the full extent of this operation and the total amount of financial loss to the victims.
Anyone who believes they may have been victimized or who has information related to these cases is encouraged to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828.464.3112 or astobbe@catawbacountync.gov.
