TAMPA, Fla. – Three males face federal costs and 5 extra suspects face state costs in what prosecutors name a “main auto theft ring” spanning a number of states, together with Florida.
Officers introduced the federal indictments at a information convention in Tampa on Tuesday.
‘An previous thought with a contemporary twist’
The backstory:
In line with U.S. Lawyer Roger Handberg, a complete of 91 autos with a mixed worth of almost $4 million have been stolen between June 2020 and Could 2021 from victims in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.
The victims included dealerships, companies and particular person automotive homeowners, Handberg stated Tuesday.
U.S. Lawyer Roger Handberg spoke on Tuesday about indictments in a “main auto theft ring.”
Investigators consider the thieves primarily focused Chrysler-made autos, together with different producers corresponding to Toyota, Porsche and Ford.
Handberg referred to the operation as “an previous thought with a contemporary twist” through which members of the theft ring magnetically connected monitoring gadgets to autos they supposed to steal, then used an digital key fob encoder to program clean key fobs and begin the focused autos.
Lots of the autos have been taken to South Florida, the place automobile identification numbers have been altered, in response to Handberg.
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Investigators say Michael Serrano, who operated Serrano Truck Corp. in Lehigh Acres, organized the transport of no less than 65 stolen automobiles from Florida to California.
Two males from California, Julio Sanchez and Angel Mares, are accused of utilizing their companies to facilitate the sale of the autos to “unwitting purchasers.”
“Use of know-how apart, this scheme was a easy one: steal automobiles, alter their automobile identification numbers, transport the stolen automobiles to a different location, promote them and divide their earnings,” Handberg stated.
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Proof results in arrests
What we all know:
In line with Handberg, regulation enforcement used surveillance movies together with DNA – together with blood stains and fingerprints – to assist determine the suspected thieves.
Of the 91 autos stolen, prosecutors say 65 have been later recovered.
“That is an unimaginable outcome, and it’s because of the devoted work of a big staff of investigators,” Handberg stated.
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Serrano, Sanchez and Mares are charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of motor autos and sale and possession of stolen motor autos. Serrano faces an extra two counts of interstate transportation of stolen motor autos.
All three federal suspects withstand 5 years in jail, whereas Serrano faces an extra 10 years for every interstate transportation cost.
“That is only the start,” Handberg stated. “We is not going to relaxation till all members of this auto theft ring are charged and held accountable for his or her crimes.”
What we do not know:
Officers didn’t launch the names of the 5 individuals dealing with state costs for allegedly stealing the autos.
The Supply: This story was written utilizing data supplied by the U.S. Division of Justice.
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