CHARLOTTE—The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina announced Friday the sentencing of four defendants arrested during Operation Scarlet, a task force targeting thieves who steal from car dealerships.
In 2023, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported that its Operation Scarlet Task Force worked with agencies in 11 states and recovered 132 stolen vehicles valued at more than $11 million.
According to the DA’s Office, the defendants used several tactics to steal vehicles from dealerships, including posing as customers, exchanging key fobs, and conducting “smash-and-grab” thefts. They frequently stole multiple vehicles at a time, causing huge financial losses. To avoid detection, they removed the GPS system, used fake tags, and changed vehicle identification numbers before selling the stolen cars locally for below market value.
The defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and were sentenced as follows:
Dewanne Lamar White, 44, of Sumter, South Carolina, was sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. White also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Kevin Jacorien James Fields, 28, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 96 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Fields also pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Reginald Eugene Hill, 25, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Garika Vaughn Bost, 26, of Denver, North Carolina, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Video: Inside Operation Scarlet, CMPD’s task force to thwart luxury car thefts
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