Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
63 charged in alleged NJ auto theft ring that shipped luxury cars to West Africa
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jun 29, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Courtesy New Jersey OAG's office
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jun 29, 2026
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New Jersey prosecutors charged 63 people on Monday for allegedly operating an auto theft network that investigators say stole more than 90 luxury vehicles worth more than $8 million and shipped many of them to buyers in West Africa.
The defendants, ages 18 to 60, are all charged with racketeering for their alleged participation in the operation between June 2025 and June 2026. Prosecutors accused them of targeting high-end vehicles, including Range Rovers, Porsches and BMWs, before arranging to sell many of them to buyers in Ghana and Nigeria.
“ For many New Jersey residents, a vehicle is far more than property. It's how you get to work, take your children to school, attend medical appointments, and meet the demands of everyday life,” Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said. “It's also one of the most costly purchases. When a vehicle is stolen, victims lose more than a car. They lose time, money, peace of mind, and a sense of security in their own communities.”
According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, each member of the ring had a specific role. Prosecutors said the alleged thieves would often break into homes to obtain vehicle key fobs.
Many also face charges including residential burglary, participation in an auto theft trafficking network, motor vehicle theft and receiving stolen property.
“Auto theft is not an isolated crime. It often involves the commission of other crimes, some of them extremely dangerous,” Davenport said at a press conference announcing the charges on Monday.
Prosecutors said theft crews delivered stolen vehicles to "fences," or people accused of buying and reselling stolen goods. Authorities identified Fatim Wingate, 26, and Brian Peppers, 35, as two of the alleged leaders. Prosecutors also accuse Adamu Alhassan, 28, and Standford Oduro, 56, of helping facilitate the sales, alleging Oduro operated a shipping yard in Irvington where stolen vehicles were loaded into shipping containers.
Charging records show all four were in custody pending detention hearings.
Attempts to reach attorneys representing the defendants were not immediately successful.
Tagged
new jersey
public safety
Catalina Gonella
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .