Man Convicted Of Defrauding Engine Swap Customers Nearly $500,000 Appeals His 60-Year Sentence

Richard Finley, the owner of Classic American Street Rods near Galveston, Texas, has appealed his felony theft conviction for property theft greater than $300,000. Finley was sentenced to 60 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution to his victims.

He was found guilty of mishandling customers’ classic cars and the money to work on them, keeping the cars and various car parts valued at about $2 million, and selling parts from the cars to unsuspecting customers. Finley’s business specialized in engine upgrades, swapping engines out for more modern ones, but instead of performing the work, he kept the cars and the money.

The trial took place in December 2025, and 28 of Finley’s 72 victims testified against him, telling similar stories of being asked to pay large amounts of money for the work up front, then the work not being done for months, or even years. Finley’s lawyers have filed an appeal, but the grounds for the appeal are not specified.

The appeal may be based on legal errors in the trial record or mistakes made by the judge or prosecution, and Finley may also be appealing for a reduced sentence. The 60-year sentence has been considered harsh by some, especially compared to sentences leveled against other thieves in recent years.