Eight men, seven of whom reside in The Bronx, have been charged in connection with a $6.6 million luxury car theft operation that involved stealing vehicles in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, and shipping them to West Africa. The defendants, aged between 23 and 35, were arrested as part of ‘Operation High Rollers,’ a nine-month investigation led by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the NYPD and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Key Details of the Operation
The stolen vehicles, including a $475,000 Rolls Royce, were stored in a parking garage at 870 Jennings Street in Longwood, The Bronx, before being shipped to Elizabeth, NJ, and then sent to Gambia and Ghana. The operation involved breaking into homes to steal key fobs, which were then used to steal the vehicles.
Charges and Arrests
The defendants have been charged with various counts of criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy. Four of the defendants are charged with first-degree criminal possession of stolen property, while the others face charges related to the theft and sale of the stolen vehicles. Five of the defendants were arrested on April 23, 2024, while three remain at large.
Law Enforcement Response
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark emphasized the global nature of modern car theft, stating, “This case reflects how car theft today is a global enterprise.” NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch highlighted the sophistication of the auto theft ring, saying, “These are not low-level crimes; they are part of a multimillion-dollar black market that fuels violence and instability.”
The investigation was led by the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the NYPD Auto Crime Division and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Assistant District Attorney Miriam Bell-Blair and other officials from the Trial Division.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
