An investigation into an auto theft ring started in Southwest Florida in 2022 culminated this week with the arrests of six people in Tampa
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and representatives from the Tampa International Airport Police Department (TPAPD), Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the arrests as part of an investigation into an auto theft ring.
“Thanks to the help of our law enforcement partners, six criminal aliens who stole upward of 80 cars will be brought to justice by our Statewide Prosecutors,” said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
“This case is a testament to the power of law enforcement teamwork, and I’m proud of the work we were able to accomplish on this investigation,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “This is a textbook example of law enforcement collaboration at its finest, bringing down a sophisticated crime ring from an operation that stretched across the west coast of Florida.”
The investigation began in June 2022, when FDLE agents in Fort Myers identified 12 stolen vehicles from multiple counties including Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties. When the suspects were identified, they were determined to live in the Tampa Bay area. Through investigative methods, agents discovered the suspects were targeting airport rental vehicles, and had direct access to the keys of high-end rentals.
Suspects with access would transport the vehicles out of the rental lot, and to an unknown location to switch the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) with fraudulent VINs, with the intent to sell the vehicles.
They would also steal rental vehicles from lawful customers by planting tracking devices on each vehicle to find their locations.
This criminal enterprise was involved in multiple vehicle thefts spanning across several Florida counties, and have committed similar crimes in several other states including Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Ohio.
On March 11, 2025, FDLE agents, along with FHP, HSI, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 5 of the 6 wanted targets for violations of racketeering, with one suspect also being charged with possession of a vehicle containing altered VIN numbers.
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