Pasco man used fraudulent ID in attempt to purchase 2 Mercedes, deputies say

A Wesley Chapel man tried to fraudulently purchase two Mercedes Benz vehicles Sunday using another person’s Social Security number and driver’s license, according to a Pasco Sheriff’s Office arrest report.

James Brucia, 64, attempted to buy one vehicle for $80,200 and another for $76,750, authorities say.

The arrest report states Brucia filled out an online credit application using fraudulent information before going with another man to the Mercedes Benz dealership located at 2383 Willow Oak Drive in Wesley Chapel on Sunday.

Once they got to the dealership, Brucia filled out a second credit application with the same stolen identity, according to court records.

While the two men still were at the dealership, the arrest report states Mercedes Benz employees discovered the application was fraudulent and called law enforcement. When deputies arrived, the two men took off running from the dealership. Deputies eventually caught them, though the report does not state how long the pursuit lasted.

According to court records, Brucia faces a charge of fraud to obtain property of $50,000 or more and a charge of impersonating another person without their consent. He was booked into Pasco County Jail and was being held on $100,000 bail Friday, records show.

Brucia pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday, according to court records.

The other man faces a second-degree charge of accessory after the fact. He was released on bond, according to court records.