An extensive fraud investigation into the former owner of the Columbus Sports & Imports auto consignment dealership continues to expand.
Police have identified more victims and federal agents have taken an interest in the case, authorities said.
The suspect, 59-year-old Sama Duff Moore, faced another court hearing Wednesday where six people alleging she scammed them came to court to oppose her release on bond. They told Judge Arthur Smith III that she still had access to victims’ personal information and financial resources, and they did not want her released from jail.
After hearing their testimony, Smith gave Moore a $100,000 bond on an identity theft charge for which no previous bond had been set. That brought her total bonds to $1.1 million on 53 felony counts involving 29 victims, so far, investigators said.
Among those who came to court was Leah Cadora of Columbus, who after the hearing said she took Moore a 2006 Mercedes S350 with the car title to sell for her in 2017, and heard nothing from Moore afterward.