NYC Local News: Car Thieves Scammed Buyers on Social Media with ‘Hot’ Cars

on

Eight Men Charged in Years-Long Stolen Car Scheme Affecting More Than 100 Buyers 



Manhattan Voice 

November 15, 2025 


NYC LOCAL NEWS - Federal and local authorities say they’ve shut down a long-running stolen-car ring that hit New York City streets hard and stretched its impact all the way down the East Coast. 


The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced charges against eight men accused of stealing more than 100 cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers—often people who thought they were simply getting a good deal online.


According to the allegations in a newly unsealed federal complaint, the group targeted mostly Honda, Acura, and Jeep vehicles parked on the streets of the Bronx and Queens. Investigators estimate the scheme caused millions of dollars in losses. Six of the eight defendants were arrested and taken into federal court in Manhattan to face the charges.


U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that New Yorkers deserve to feel safe—and that large-scale fraud operations like this hurt not just individual victims but communities as a whole. 


“As alleged, the eight men charged stole cars from the streets of New York, time and again, and trafficked them to unsuspecting buyers along the East Coast,” he said.


Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel echoed the sentiment, stressing that a stolen car isn’t just an inconvenience—it can derail someone’s life. “This is not a victimless crime,” he said, describing the fear and financial harm that follow a theft.


NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that Hondas remain among the most frequently stolen cars in New York City. She credited a multi-year, precision-focused investigation for dismantling the alleged ring, calling it a strong example of teamwork among local and federal agencies.


New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James also highlighted the collaborative effort, stating that the group’s actions left buyers across the East Coast facing both financial losses and safety concerns.


Investigators say the operation ran from around March 2022 through November 2025. Here’s, in plain language, what the Complaint describes:


Cars were stolen from city streets—often in the Bronx or Queens. The vehicles were then moved to “lay-up spots,” where the defendants allegedly let them sit for a while to avoid drawing attention.


During that time, authorities say the group altered the cars’ VINs—the unique identification numbers tied to each vehicle.


To make the new, fake VINs look legitimate, the group allegedly took the cars for routine services like oil changes, generating maintenance records under the false identity.


Finally, the cars were posted for sale on a social-media marketplace platform. Interested buyers were met in person, where they unknowingly purchased stolen vehicles they believed were legitimate.


The eight men charged in the case are:

  • Pedro Manuel Lopez Marte, 38, Bronx
  • Jerry Lopez Paulino, 33, Bronx
  • Sergio Diaz Ramirez, 35, Bronx
  • Pedro Rojas, 62, Bronx
  • Justin Martha, 24, Bronx
  • Erick Rojas Cruz, 27, Bronx
  • Jose Ferreira, 48, Bronx
  • Ronald Arias Santos, 30, Hempstead

Each faces three federal charges:

  1. Conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles (up to 5 years in prison)
  2. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud (up to 20 years)
  3. Wire fraud (up to 20 years)

Comments

Post a Comment