According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, a federal grand jury returned a criminal indictment earlier this week that remained sealed until today, accusing three Charlotte men of plotting to steal high-end vehicles.
According to the department, Jonathan Marquis Stitt, 36, Francisco Arnoldo Lopez Pena, 41, and Jason Randall Spearman, 43, are accused of conspiring to violate federal laws governing the transportation, possession, and sale of stolen vehicles and altering or removing vehicle identification numbers (VINs).
Each defendant is also accused of altering VINs on certain autos. According to the agency, Stitt faces two counts of possession of a stolen car, while Spearman is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Between 2020 and October 2024, the defendants and their co-conspirators reportedly planned to steal luxury automobiles worth millions of dollars from businesses and individuals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland.
According to the department, the offenders sought high-end vehicles such as Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz.
Once in possession of the stolen automobiles, the defendants and their co-conspirators reportedly altered or tampered with the VINs to avoid detection and improve resale value, according to the police.
The agency also claimed that Stitt and his co-conspirators sold the stolen vehicles at prices well below market value, keeping some for personal use and to aid the conspiracy.
If convicted, the suspects face lengthy prison sentences as well as financial penalties, according to the department.
An indictment is an accusation; it does not imply guilt. All defendants are deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
