Alleged Fort Worth scam artist indicted on elevated charges, faces stiffer penalties
An accused Fort Worth scam artist is now facing heftier charges related to an alleged vehicle-flipping scheme that targeted DFW-area residents.
In 2024, Robert Michael Rambo, 63, was indicted on a third-degree felony theft charge after allegedly bilking friends, neighbors and business associates out of tens of thousands of dollars. In February, a Tarrant County grand jury enhanced the charge to a first-degree felony, with the amount of money Rambo is accused of stealing now exceeding $300,000.
As of April 2, Rambo remains free while awaiting his next hearing. Calls to him and his attorney, Timothy E. Brown, were not returned.
The scheme, according to alleged victim Haley Forsyth, involved Rambo taking money from investors to purchase cars at auction that he would then sell, or flip, for a profit. Forsyth gave Rambo $60,000 to buy vehicles with the expectation that she would receive that back plus her portion of the net proceeds.
When the money wasn’t forthcoming, Forsyth tried to no avail to get her original investment back from Rambo, who lived across the street from her.
When it became clear Rambo wasn’t going to return the money, Forsyth went to the police. After a drawn-out process, she was finally successful in filing charges against her former friend.
With the enhanced indictment and the increased monetary value attached to it, the stakes in the case are now substantially higher. In Texas, a first-degree felony conviction can result in five years to life imprisonment in addition to fines.
Rambo is a licensed real estate agent in Texas and has no disciplinary actions on file with the Texas Real Estate Commission for the past 10 years.
In addition to his real estate work, Rambo has at least two businesses in his name — Rambo Truck Sales and Together Truck Sales. The first is registered at Rambo’s Fort Worth home. The second one is registered at 9501 Crowley Road in Fort Worth, a commercial address.
According to Texas law, with few exceptions any person “engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging motor vehicles” must have a general distinguishing number, which is essentially a dealer’s license. A records search produced no evidence that Rambo is, or ever has been, licensed to sell vehicles.
Aloys Mpagazehe Kwizera is licensed to sell motor vehicles and trailers under the business name Together Auto Sales & Repair at 9501 Crowley Road. He and another employee said they knew Robert Rambo but hadn’t had any recent dealings with him. According to Kwizera, Rambo was his Realtor when he bought the Crowley Road property in 2015. After that, he said, Rambo helped him get his car sales business started, but there was never a partnership.
A public records search turned up three civil judgments against Rambo going back to 2013. The most recent recorded judgment, from 2021, was in the amount of $65,000.
The plaintiffs in the civil case resulting in that judgment were Sheila Patel and husband. Sheila Patel told the Star-Telegram she has yet to receive a penny of the money the court awarded her four years ago, and just hearing the name Robert Rambo causes her blood to boil.
“He took people’s livelihoods,” said Patel. “He’s ruined people. He ruined me. He took full advantage of our kindness.”
Like Haley Forsyth, Patel said she first tried to get her money back directly from Rambo before turning to the police and the courts. When asked if Rambo ever provided a reason for not repaying her, Patel said no.
“His answer was, ‘I got a family that I got to support … I have to do what I have to do,’” said Patel. “He pretty much laughed in our faces.”
Forsyth and Patel came together while Forsyth was attempting to build a stronger case against Rambo. Several other alleged victims also emerged through Forsyth’s investigative work. The most recent indictment against Rambo lists six alleged victims, including Forsyth and Patel.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s office confirmed the details of the case.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 11:58 AM.