Six people were arrested in a long-running ring that allegedly used stolen credit cards and fake driver’s licenses to grab rental cars across the Northeast, move them to New York, and in some cases connect those vehicles to violent crimes; federal prosecutors, the FBI, and the NYPD say the operation stretched from at least September 2023 to the present and involved multiple law enforcement partners.
Federal authorities have charged Kaheem Archer, 29, of Brooklyn; Calvin Bent, 24, of Brooklyn; Christine Ferguson, 27, of Brooklyn; Lamont Martin, 26, of Staten Island; Ajani Mcchriston, 33, of Brooklyn; and Chad Reed, 27, of Brooklyn in a multi-year scheme to steal rental cars worth millions of dollars. The arrests came after an investigation that alleges the defendants used stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses bearing victims’ names to pick up vehicles from several rental companies. Prosecutors say the defendants transported many of the cars to the Bronx or Manhattan shortly after pickup, often the same day.
Each person faces three core charges: conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and aggravated identity theft. The conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, the wire fraud conspiracy carries up to 20 years, and aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year term. All six were presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger.
“Identity theft has no place in our community, and it impacts and harms New Yorkers and others in many different ways,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, the six defendants charged today traveled up and down the East Coast, picking up rental cars using credit cards obtained with the identities of innocent victims to further a variety of schemes, including the use of rental cars to commit violent crimes in our community. These charges not only bring that scheme to an end but also send a broader message that the women and men of this Office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and pursue criminals who seek to use the identities of unwitting and innocent victims to enrich themselves and commit crimes.”
Investigators say the pattern started by at least September 2023 and continued into 2026, with suspects reserving and collecting cars under stolen identities and charging the rentals to victims’ accounts. The scheme allegedly involved fraudulent driver’s licenses that contained the defendants’ photos but listed the victims’ names, enabling the pickups. Vehicles were then moved into New York City and, according to the complaint, redirected into criminal activity or never returned to rental fleets.
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
Court papers assert that several vehicles taken in the scheme were later recovered in connection with violent crimes or were being operated by suspects linked to violent incidents. Multiple defendants allegedly visited the same rental locations in quick succession to carry out the thefts, which made recovery and tracing more complicated for victims and investigators. No returned rentals were recorded for many of the cars targeted, increasing losses to rental companies and credit card holders.
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
“The alleged rental car and identity theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.”
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. The investigation credited work by the FBI and NYPD, including the FBI-NYPD New York Joint Major Theft Task Force, and assistance from the Northampton, Massachusetts Police Department; Verona, New Jersey Police Department; Collegeville, Pennsylvania Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Greenwich, Connecticut Police Department; Delaware State Police; New York State Police; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie B. Arffa and Matthew T. Souza in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
