A highly sophisticated car theft ring, capable of purloining vehicles in less than a minute without the need for keys, broken windows, or traditional hot-wiring, has been dismantled following a significant federal indictment. This operation unveiled a complex network that funnels stolen cars from American streets to international black markets.
On Wednesday, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, revealed a 15-count federal indictment against the group. The indictment highlights the crew’s use of a device called an Autel, which enables them to reprogram a car’s internal computer system. This technology allows them to configure a blank key fob, bypassing conventional car theft methods.
“There’s no need for keys or hot-wiring,” Pirro explained. “No smashed windows or elaborate theatrics. In less than a minute, the vehicle’s internal system is altered, and the car is gone within 60 seconds.”
Pirro detailed that the theft operations occurred across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Pennsylvania, targeting a diverse range of vehicles. This includes luxury models like Corvettes and Camaros, as well as one of the nation’s most popular cars, the Honda Civic.
During a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2026, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, flanked by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll, announced the charges related to the international car theft ring. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
The indictment alleges that once the vehicles were stolen, the suspects disabled tracking systems such as GPS and Bluetooth to evade detection. They reportedly “cooled off” the stolen cars at locations where they could switch license plates, including a parking garage at a Maryland Marriott. Subsequently, the cars were loaded onto transport carriers at ports located in Savannah, Georgia, and Baltimore, Maryland, for overseas shipment.
The stolen cars are hidden in containers labeled as furniture to avoid scrutiny, Pirro said. Investigators say the vehicles were then sent overseas, primarily to Africa, where they were sold on the black market for high profits.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces charges related to an international car theft ring during a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2026, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser present. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
“This isn’t joyriding,” Pirro said. “These are high-end vehicles that are then loaded on transport carriers … shipped across the ocean to Africa, where demand is sky high and profits are enormous.”
“Welcome to the new world of car theft,” Pirro added.
The indictment identifies more than 20 stolen vehicles worth nearly $1 million, but investigators believe the operation may be far larger — potentially tied to over 100 thefts in Washington, D.C., and more than 30 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, with a total value approaching $4 million.
The five men charged so far include Jacob Hernandez, David Coby, Dustin Wetzel, Chance Clark and James Young. They face multiple federal charges, including conspiracy, possession and transport of stolen vehicles, as well as related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces charges related to an international car theft ring during a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2026, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser present. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and warned the public that modern car theft rings are increasingly using advanced technology to bypass traditional security measures.
Metropolitan Police Department’s Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carrol said citizens can take steps to prevent this new kind of car theft, including keeping key fobs inside a faraday bag — a bag that prevents the electronic signal from emanating from the fob — and “old school things” like club manual devices to lock a steering wheel.
“I know a lot of people will think those things are outdated, but they’re not,” Carrol said. “They’re good devices that prevent vehicles from still being driven” even if someone uses an Autel device to access the car.
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