Charges have been filed against three men for their alleged conspiracy to steal high-end vehicles, as announced by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The three individuals are:
- Jonathan Marquis Stitt, 36, from Charlotte.
- Francisco Arnoldo Lopez Pena, 41, from Charlotte.
- Jason Randall Spearman, 43, from Charlotte.
They are facing allegations of violating federal laws related to the transportation, ownership, and sale of stolen vehicles, along with the removal of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
Stitt faces two charges related to having a stolen vehicle, while Spearman is charged with having a firearm despite being a convicted felon.
The indictment reveals that from 2020 to October 2024, three individuals and their accomplices plotted to steal luxury vehicles valued at millions from people and businesses across the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland. This featured high-end vehicles from brands like Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz, along with premium trucks from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Freightliner, and GMC.
Authorities report that they would alter the VINs of the stolen vehicles, apply fake 30-day tags, and repaint the cars to conceal their actions. The vehicles were typically sold for less than what they were worth. Some of the vehicles were retained.
Jonathan Stitt could receive a maximum sentence of 30 years, Francisco Pena faces up to 10 years, and Jason Spearman is looking at a potential 25-year sentence.
Charlotte sees its fifth indictment for stolen vehicles since August 2023.