A Cranberry Township mechanic accused of lending customers’ vehicles out while they were undergoing repairs has received additional charges in an incident related to charges filed in November.

In November, police accused Oilology owner Keith Randall Smith, 68, of lending the vehicle of a man who took it to him for repairs in June to another customer. The vehicle’s owner was alerted when he received a Pennsylvania Turnpike invoice for travel while it was supposed to be at Smith’s shop.

Police allege Smith lent the woman the man’s vehicle while hers was supposed to be being repaired by Smith.

Related charges filed Tuesday, Dec. 2, allege Smith used or lent out that woman’s vehicle while it was supposed to be being repaired as well.

The new charges include one felony count each of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities and criminal use of a communication facility and one misdemeanor count each of theft by deception, deceptive business practices, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and securing execution documents by deception.

According to an affidavit, the woman agreed to have her vehicle repaired by Smith in November 2024 after it was damaged. The same month, the woman filed an insurance claim and the insurance company issued a check to Smith, which he cashed on Jan. 7.

Police said Smith immediately told the woman repairs would be delayed due to lack of parts, paint, employees and illness. Work was delayed until July.

Police said the woman took the vehicle to Oilology in mid-July and was told repairs would take about two weeks. Smith then allegedly provided a number of reasons for delays in the repair work, until the woman was told she could pick up her vehicle around Sept. 10.

According to the affidavit, upon arriving at Oilology, the woman found the repairs had not been completed. Police said she also found trash and numerous personal items not belonging to her in the vehicle.

Police said they used traffic camera footage to confirm the woman’s vehicle had been driven without permission on at least 35 days in Butler and Allegheny counties during the time Smith had possession of it.

The woman took her vehicle to Oilology again to have the repairs completed on Oct. 31 and was told repairs would be completed in days. According to the affidavit, the damage has still not been repaired.

Smith was charged Nov. 21 with one felony count each of deceptive business practices and criminal use of a communication facility and one misdemeanor count each of unauthorized motor vehicle use and criminal mischief following the June incident.

His preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, before District Judge Kevin Flaherty in Cranberry Township.

His preliminary hearing for the new charges has not yet been scheduled.

https://www.butlereagle.com/20251125/police-cranberry-twp-mechanic-lent-out-customers-car-failed-to-make-repairs/?CSAuthResp=1634089911%3A173807578679725%3A23604%3A3%3A24%3Asuccess%3A4545230FB9423CD416470A5551B0DEB1