'Hot Rides': East Providence Car Dealer Charged with Forgery & Counterfeiting

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — A Bristol man has been charged with one felony and one misdemeanor in connection with renewing his car dealership license, state police said.

Kenneth A. Andrade, 52, owns Hot Rides Auto Sales in East Providence. He has been charged with providing fraudulent documents to a state agency when attempting to renew his dealership license, according to Rhode Island State Police Maj. Dennis Fleming, Detective Commander.

Andrade allegedly submitted a fraudulent retail tax permit and a fraudulent “letter of good standing,” as part of his request to renew his Motor Vehicle Dealer’s License through the state Division of Motor Vehicles, Major Fleming said. State police were consulted when the Dealer’s License Investigator suspected "irregularities in the documents," police said.

Based on an investigation by the State Police Automobile Theft & Insurance Fraud Unit, detectives obtained a warrant for Andrade’s arrest, Major Fleming said. Andrade was taken into custody Feb. 23 and charged with forgery and counterfeiting, a felony, and providing a false document to a public official, a misdemeanor, Major Fleming said.

He was arraigned in Third District Court and released on personal recognizance, pending further court action.