Keith R. Smith

The owner of Oilology in Cranberry Township had two more cases filed against him citing deceptive business practices Friday, Dec. 19.

In one case, Keith R. Smith, 69, of Cranberry Township, was charged with one felony count each of deceptive business practices, criminal mischief and criminal use of a communication facility following a May 28 incident.

According to an affidavit, the incident only came to the attention of Cranberry Township police in early December, when a Cranberry Township couple notified them about “suspected fraudulent activity” regarding a 2008 Honda Element they purchased at Oilology.

According to police, in addition to transferring the title to the vehicle over to the couple, Smith agreed to perform an official state inspection along with extensive repairs. Although he provided a state inspection certificate, Smith routinely failed to make promised repairs to the vehicle, while claiming new repairs were necessary and charging the couple for them.

Ultimately, the couple brought the Honda to Oilology several times between June and October and paid Smith around $4,400 for repairs that were never carried out, according to the affidavit.

Eventually, the Honda was taken to another mechanic, who found wiring “had been cut and manipulated, and not showing warnings and messages it was designed to show,” according to police

In the second case, he was charged with one misdemeanor count each of deceptive business practices, theft, unlawful vehicle use and criminal mischief following an Oct. 31 incident.

The second set of charges is related to an incident dating as early as Oct. 31 after a 2012 Ford Taurus was taken to Oilology for repair and inspection.

According to an affidavit, once the owners of the car retrieved it from the shop, they found their odometer had 849 more miles than when they dropped it off, even though they did not give the shop permission for anyone to drive it. They also found objects inside the car that did not belong to them, including a lighter and new car stereo speakers.

Traffic cameras around the City of Butler and Butler Township show the Ford in use in those areas, according to the affidavit. In addition, the owners noticed a check engine signal which was not showing when they dropped it off.

Smith allegedly accepted a $90 deposit from the owners for repairs that were not carried out.

A preliminary hearing for both cases has been scheduled for at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 in front of District Judge Kevin Flaherty.

The cases are the sixth and seventh Smith has been charged in related to Oilology since Nov. 21. Each of them accuse Smith of employing deceptive business practices, failing to repair vehicles after accepting payment and, in some cases, lending customers’ vehicles to other customers.

Smith has been released on his own recognizance.