TAMPA, Fla. — Three men have been indicted on federal charges for allegedly operating a multi-million dollar auto theft ring that targeted luxury vehicles across Florida.
According to investigators, Michael Serrano, Julio Sanchez, and Angel Mares, along with their co-conspirators, are accused of stealing high-end cars from dealerships, residences, residential parking garages, and other businesses. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg stated that the men would put tracking devices on the cars they intended to steal and program blank key fobs to unlock them.
After obtaining the vehicles, the indictment alleges they altered the vehicle identification numbers and transported the cars on semi-trucks across state lines for resale. The men purportedly offered purchasers full vehicle registration and title within the state of California for an additional fee. Purchases were reportedly paid for with cash and checks.
The operation began to unravel when detectives discovered a fingerprint on a cup inside a stolen vehicle. The fingerprint was traced back to one of the suspects.
Court records indicate that between June 2020 and May 2021, the group stole at least 91 cars worth nearly $4 million. Some of the stolen vehicles included a Jeep Wrangler Sahara, an Infiniti QX80, and a Dodge Ram 3500.
If convicted on all counts, Serrano faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Sanchez and Mares each face a maximum of five years. Additionally, the defendants must forfeit any property traceable to the proceeds of the crimes. Multiple local, state, and federal agencies, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department, reportedly collaborated on the investigation.
