Oh, what a tangled web we weave.../PA

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Police: Identity theft led to new motorcycle
Michael Pound - Times Staff
12/01/2005
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NEW SEWICKLEY TWP. - In the last half of 2005, New Sewickley Township resident Tristan Villella has apparently gone through two motorcycles, an $11,700 insurance check and a couple of identities.

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And township police want to talk with him about it.

Police have an arrest warrant for Villella, 53, of 519 Baker Road, after, police said, he gave insurance agents a false name to obtain a check for a wrecked motorcycle that he did not own.

According to court documents filed with District Judge Edward Howe, who issued the arrest warrant Tuesday, Villella had a verbal agreement with Freedom resident Dennis McFee to buy McFee's 1998 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Two years ago, Villella gave McFee a $1,500 down payment and agreed to make $500 monthly payments.

McFee told police he was to hold the title until Villella made payments totaling $14,000. McFee also added Villella to his insurance policy for the bike, and the two agreed that Villella would pay the premiums.

The agreement apparently went off without a hitch until July 21, when Villella wrecked on the motorcycle in Cranberry Township. Police said Villella, who didn't have a motorcycle endorsement and whose driver's license was suspended because of a drunken-driving incident, identified himself as McFee at the time.

That night, Villella, still posing as McFee, contacted a State Farm insurance adjuster to report the accident. He subsequently reported to State Farm officials that he - meaning McFee - had moved and obtained a new telephone number, effectively changing McFee's insurance information to his own address and phone number.

The insurance company totaled the motorcycle and cut a check for $11,700 for Villella, who took the check to McMahon's Cycle Sales in Beaver Falls, where he bought a new Honda motorcycle for $9,700. Police said Villella gave McFee the $2,000 difference in August.

The capper was a telephone message Villella left for McFee Nov. 16. Police said Villella told McFee that he would kill both McFee and his wife, Hope Lipinski, if Lipinski contacted him again about the matter.

Villella is charged with identity theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property, forgery, intimidation of a witness and making terroristic threats.

McFee could not be reached for comment Wednesday.