By Shawn Henry 
A Nevada classic car restorer is now facing 31 felony fraud charges after investigators accused him of taking money from customers across the world and leaving behind unfinished, gutted, or abandoned restoration projects that in some cases involved deeply personal family vehicles.
According to court documents, Anthony Tamaio allegedly operated a years-long scheme centered around restoring classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s. Investigators say victims paid anywhere from $17,000 to $65,000 for restoration work that either never happened or was left incomplete after vehicles were torn apart.
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And this is where the story gets ugly for enthusiasts.
Many of the alleged victims were over the age of 60. Some reportedly handed over retirement money or life savings to restore vehicles tied to family history, memories, and personal milestones. Authorities claim the alleged scheme stretched from 2016 through 2024, meaning some owners may have spent years waiting for cars they never got back in proper condition.
One California family says they lost far more than money.
The family told FOX5 they wanted to restore a 1962 Chevrolet truck that had belonged to the husband’s grandfather. The truck was supposed to become a generational heirloom passed down to their children. After researching Tamaio’s business and checking references that reportedly gave positive reviews, they decided to move forward with the restoration.
They dropped the truck off in 2021 and paid more than $33,000.
At first, the process appeared normal. But according to the family, there were warning signs that became harder to ignore over time. They said Tamaio would not allow unexpected visits to the shop and only wanted customers arriving at specific times.
That detail matters.
For many collectors and enthusiasts, restoration shops often become second homes during long projects. Owners typically want progress photos, updates, and regular access to vehicles that may carry emotional and financial value. Restricting customer access can quickly become a red flag in an industry already filled with horror stories about delayed projects and runaway costs.
The situation escalated when the family says Tamaio contacted them claiming the city was shutting down the shop and told them they needed to retrieve the truck.
What they found stunned them.
Instead of a restored family heirloom, the truck had reportedly been broken into three separate pieces. The interior had been stripped apart. The family said they had paid for new carpeting and replacement seats, but when they recovered the vehicle, only the steering wheel remained inside.
The truck had to be towed home in pieces.
The emotional fallout hit just as hard as the financial loss. According to FOX5’s reporting, the husband became emotional upon seeing the condition of the vehicle that once belonged to his grandfather. What was supposed to become a restored symbol of family history instead turned into a nightmare involving thousands of dollars and years of lost time.
And they may not be alone.
Court filings from Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford allege Tamaio collected payments from customers and then abandoned their restoration projects. Authorities identified roughly 30 victims in the case, though investigators believe there may be additional people who have not yet come forward.
A Facebook group connected to alleged victims reportedly has around 60 members.
That suggests the damage could extend far beyond the charges already filed.
After FOX5 aired its initial story, additional alleged victims reportedly reached out with similar experiences. One man shared a particularly painful story involving a truck that had been handed down from his father when he was 16 years old.
Now 46, he reportedly wanted to restore the vehicle so his father, who was dying of cancer, could take one final drive in the truck before passing away.
That never happened.
This is where the story stops being just another fraud case involving money. For car enthusiasts, collector vehicles often represent family identity, memories, and decades of emotional attachment. These are not disposable appliances. Many classic cars become physical connections between generations.
When restoration projects collapse, owners are not just losing parts and labor costs. Sometimes they lose irreplaceable pieces of family history.
The Nevada DMV Compliance Division reportedly told FOX5 that customers from around the world found Tamaio online and sent him money for restoration work. That global reach highlights another reality inside the collector car industry: trust drives everything.
Unlike modern dealership service departments, restoration shops often operate on long timelines involving massive upfront deposits, custom fabrication work, and irregular progress schedules. Customers regularly ship vehicles across state lines based largely on reputation, references, and online presence.
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That system works when shops deliver quality craftsmanship. But when things go wrong, recovering money or damaged vehicles can become extremely difficult.
And that’s where enthusiasts often feel trapped.
Many collectors are willing to wait years for a proper restoration because high-end classic car work is time-intensive and specialized. Some projects legitimately take longer than expected. Costs rise. Parts become difficult to source. Delays happen.
But authorities allege this case crossed far beyond normal restoration headaches.
Tamaio was arrested at a local business and later posted surety bond. He appeared in court last week while negotiations in the case continued.
FOX5 reporter Victoria Saha said she contacted Tamaio directly. According to the report, he ended the call once the allegations were mentioned and did not respond to a follow-up text message.
For classic car owners, the case lands at a time when restoration costs are already climbing and trust inside the industry feels thinner than ever. Enthusiasts are spending more money than they did just a few years ago to save aging vehicles, while horror stories involving unfinished projects continue circulating online.
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That leaves many owners asking the same question: how do you protect yourself when restoring a car often requires handing over both huge amounts of money and something emotionally priceless?
Because once a family heirloom gets stripped apart and abandoned, getting the vehicle back is only part of the damage.
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Source
John Lloyd