Eight people have been charged with multiple felonies in connection with an auto-theft ring that allegedly stole 19 vehicles valued at over $800,000 across the United States. The charges were filed in Alameda County Superior Court following an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a complaint referral to the California Department of Justice (DOJ).
The complaint includes 40 felony counts such as conspiracy, auto theft, possession of stolen property, and selling vehicles with altered vehicle identification numbers (VINs). According to authorities, the defendants are accused of obtaining stolen vehicles, changing their VINs, re-registering them through the Alaska DMV, and then selling them from a business in the Bay Area.
Attorney General Rob Bonta commented on the case: “We will not stand idly by when bad actors undermine legitimate businesses, steal from our communities, and weaken the safety of our neighborhoods by operating criminal enterprises in the underground economy. Today’s complaint charges eight defendants with 40 felonies for their part in this complex auto theft scheme. The California Department of Justice will continue to do our part to protect Californians from organized criminal theft and combat the underground economy.”
DMV Director Steve Gordon added: “This case demonstrates the DMV’s commitment to protecting all used car buyers throughout California. These eight defendants took advantage of innocent car buyers, and they got caught. The DMV is focused on ending these scams for good.”
The DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section is handling prosecution. This unit focuses on investigating and prosecuting complex cases related to fraud, public corruption, offenses involving unreported economic activity known as “underground economy” crimes, counterfeiting, and human trafficking. Teams consisting of prosecutors, investigators, auditors, and paralegals work together with federal and local agencies on cases that cross jurisdictional lines.
Officials remind that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
