⏱ 3 min read
A brazen auto-theft ring that stole at least 20 cars in the Washington D.C. area and Pennsylvania has been busted. The six defendants allegedly reprogrammed the vehicles with blank key fobs and sold them to buyers in the U.S. and Ghana.
According to the indictment, the conspirators used electronic devices to reprogram the cars, primarily Honda Civics and Acura models, to accept previously blank key fobs. They then transported the vehicles to storage locations in D.C. and Maryland, disguising them with swapped license plates and obscured Vehicle Identification Numbers.
Before transporting the vehicles, the defendants disabled the stolen vehicles’ GPS and Bluetooth capabilities to evade detection. The investigation, which began a year ago, is ongoing, with law enforcement searching for a seventh defendant.
A search warrant was executed at an automobile storage facility in Decatur, Georgia, which is suspected to be linked to the auto-theft ring. The defendants face charges in a 15-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Organized Crime
- Defendant: Washington D.C.
- Location: DC
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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