DETROIT – Officials busted a massive car theft operation that involved more than 400 cars across more than 40 cities in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.
Car theft operation
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the people involved in this operation targeted new vehicle storage lots at manufacturing facilities, car dealerships, parking lots, and homes.
More than 40 cities in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties were affected, as well as others in Eaton and Kent counties.
After the cars were stolen, they were sold on the black market exponentially below their actual value, officials said. The buyers were typically looking for unregistered vehicles.
Cars stolen as part of this operation have since been linked to murder cases, armed robberies, carjackings, police evasion, and weapons offenses.
Nessel said the group used counter-surveillance to steal cars quickly and efficiently. They would shoot at officers and ram security vehicles, if confronted, she said.
“The activities of criminal organizations like these go far beyond theft,” Nessel said. “They cause millions in financial losses to our retail partners, sow fear, and endanger lives. Vehicles stolen as part of this criminal enterprise go on to become tools in violence, posing additional threats to public safety.”
Officials said the total value of the stolen vehicles was over $8 million.
Search warrants
More than 200 police were involved in eight arrest warrants on May 15, 2024, against men from Southeast Michigan.
Six people were taken into custody during the execution of these warrants.
Officials also recovered seven stolen vehicles, hundreds of car parts linked to stolen vehicles, several key fobs, stolen dealership license plates, burglary tools, thousands of dollars’ worth of cash, and nine guns.
6 people charged
Here are the six people who have been charged in this case:
- Kevin Lamont Stevenson Jr., 21, of Detroit: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, and nine counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
- Joseph David Doyle, 25, of Onstead: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, and six counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
- Braylen Jeese Green, 20, of Wixom: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, and nine counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
- Dejhon Trevon Bush, 20, of Detroit: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, and seven counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
- Zamarr Terrell Johnson, 18, of Troy: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, two counts of fourth-degree fleeing or eluding, and 12 counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
- Desmond Maurice Wilson, 21, of Detroit: Conducting a criminal enterprise, use of a computer to commit a crime, breaking and entering with intent, and nine counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle.
Conducting a criminal enterprise and use of a computer to commit a crime are both 20-year felonies.
All six men have been taken to jails in Oakland and Macomb counties.
Court dates have not yet been set.
Massive police operation
Officials from Troy, Detroit, Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Blackman Township, Bloomfield Township, Canton Township, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Livonia, Royal Oak, Michigan State Police, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, the Criminal Investigations Division, and the FORCE Team were involved in the search warrants.
Other police departments that have been involved in the investigation include Dearborn, Eastpointe, Farmington Hills, Lansing, Novi, Roseville, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Walled Lake, and Warren.
“I am extremely proud of the work that has been done by my staff and all of the participating agencies to arrest and prosecute these violent and reckless criminals,” Troy police Chief Frank Nastasi said.
Investigation continues
Officials are still working to find and arrest two more people.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and they’re trying to establish cases against other people involved in the operation.
