Ex-owner of RV Peddler pleads no contest to grand theft

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The former owner of R.V. Peddler, known for its ads featuring an anthropomorphic pig emphasizing they’ll take anything in trade, pleaded no contest Friday to grand theft.

The plea agreement accepted by 83-year-old Faye Pyle-Morero ends an embezzlement case that began six years ago, when she was accused of taking trailers or motorhomes on consignment, selling them then failing to pay the customer or loan company.

Prosecutors said Pyle-Morero pleaded no contest to three counts of grand theft of property with a “white collar” enhancement — admitting to taking more than $500,000.

The plea deal negotiated between prosecutors and defense lawyer Phillip Gillet was for time served, three years’ felony probation and payment of restitution to all victims named in the complaint.

“In light of the defendant’s age and lack of criminal history, she was likely to receive a probation sentence at trial,” said District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Daniela Gonzaga. “As such, the people tried to maximize the financial rights of the victims that she defrauded.”

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A former employee told investigators R.V. Peddler started going into debt and wasn’t paying lenders or creditors on time. The employee said he believed there was internal theft and sloppy accounting.

The alleged embezzlement went on for years, resulting in a total theft of $2.8 million, prosecutors said when charges were filed in 2018.

Court documents contained dozens of examples in which people placed vehicles on consignment with R.V. Peddler and weren’t paid. In some cases, tens of thousands of dollars were owed.

Ken Wayne Searcy, the former general manager of the business, was also charged. The case against him was dismissed in 2019 due to insufficient evidence.

R.V. Peddler had previously faced scrutiny.

In 2006, the business was placed on four years’ probation and agreed to pay nearly $65,000 in penalties, costs of the investigation and legal fees as part of a settlement agreement with the DMV. In that case, a customer complaint in 2003 resulted in an investigation that found 93 questionable transactions.

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