Thirteen people have been indicted in a New York case alleging a sophisticated stolen car operation that moved roughly 100 vehicles valued at millions of dollars, using altered paperwork, falsified VINs, and resale schemes to conceal the cars’ origins.

Federal prosecutors say the ring operated from about June 2024 through May 2026 and targeted vehicles stolen from across New York City. Authorities allege the group obscured the thefts, manufactured false histories, and resold the cars to unsuspecting buyers in New York and beyond. The indictment was unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and announced with partner agencies.

According to the charges, the defendants bought cars that had been taken from victims and then hid or altered identifying information to make the vehicles look legitimate. Investigators say they created fake titles, covered true Vehicle Identification Numbers with new VINs, and replaced federal certification labels with ones showing the fraudulent VINs. The scheme also involved routine services like oil changes and inspections to create plausible maintenance and inspection records for the stolen cars.

The indictment describes a pattern of laundering that used multiple deceptive tactics to keep the flow of stolen vehicles moving. The defendants allegedly advertised the cars on social media marketplaces and resold them for substantial criminal profits. Prosecutors say the network’s actions disrupted victims’ lives and put buyers at financial and safety risk when cars proved to be stolen or misrepresented.

• Norberto Pena Brito, a/k/a “Real,” 40, of the Bronx, New York;
• Wilkins Martinez Vargas, 38, of the Bronx;
• Noemi Solano Compres, 41, of the Bronx;
• Paula Abad Diaz, a/k/a “Mayi,” 35, of Yonkers, New York;
• Marlin Segura Martinez, a/k/a “Marlin Perez,” 35, of Yonkers;
• Angel Heredia Perez, 24, of the Bronx;
• Luis Vargas Sanchez, 24, of the Dominican Republic;
• Joel Abad Belen, 28, of the Bronx;
• Luis Brito Campusano, 37, of the Bronx;
• Tomas Lorenzo Jose, 38, of the Bronx;
• Yeremy Lorenzo Jose, 37, of the Bronx;
• Jholkis Melenciano Colon, 23, of the Bronx; and
• Eduardo Perez Estrella, 58, of the Bronx,

Nine of the defendants were arrested and seven were presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. One defendant was arrested in the Western District of New York and detained. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit in the Southern District of New York.

The charges include conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. Each defendant faces one count of conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles, carrying a maximum sentence of five years; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with a maximum of 20 years; and one count of wire fraud, also carrying a maximum of 20 years. Those statutory maximums are prescribed by Congress and any sentence will be set by a judge.

Officials described the impact of the alleged operation on ordinary residents and buyers. “When they head to work, school, or elsewhere, New Yorkers expect to find their cars where they left them,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, the thirteen defendants charged here shattered that everyday expectation. By acquiring stolen cars, concealing their origin, and selling them to new victims, the defendants fostered a market for rampant theft, disrupted New Yorkers’ lives and security, and bilked innocent buyers out of their hard-earned dollars. New Yorkers have no tolerance for thieves, and neither do the women and men of the SDNY and our law enforcement partners.”

“As alleged, these defendants stole dozens of vehicles from the hardworking public, altered the identification numbers and paperwork, and sold them as legitimate cars to unsuspecting families,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “A stolen vehicle is far more than lost property; this pervasive fraud upends daily routines, drains finances, and erodes the sense of safety that New Yorkers should be able to have in their own neighborhoods. As a lead member of the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI New York will continue to relentlessly target, disrupt, and dismantle the criminal organizations that prey on our communities and threaten our livelihoods.”

“These 13 defendants acquired approximately 100 stolen cars worth millions of dollars and then sold them to unsuspecting buyers,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This elaborate scheme laundered stolen cars through multiple deceptive and illegal tactics designed to conceal their origins and take advantage of consumers. Thanks to the efforts of our NYPD investigators, along with our partners at HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, this pipeline has been dismantled and those responsible are being held accountable.”

Prosecutors noted that the defendants and their co-conspirators generated new, fraudulent histories for the cars through inspections and service records, and used those documents to support forged titles. The Office identified Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ruff and Bridget G. Johnston as the prosecutors assigned to the case. The charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

https://x.com/HSINewYork/status/2064719773863174277