- Stolen cars included Cadillac CTS-Vs, Chevy Camaros, and a Chevy Corvette.
- One of the men convicted had previously been imprisoned for second-degree murder.
- The gang appeared at several street takeover events with the stolen cars.
Nine individuals involved in a car theft ring are heading to prison in the U.S., including a pair of men who have each been convicted of stealing more than two dozen vehicles each. If you’ve ever attended an illegal street takeover in Pennsylvania, you may have seen one of the group’s stolen cars drifting within inches of spectators.
United States Attorney Brian D. Miller says that 26-year-old Ian Torres from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 43-year-old Jose Otero Nieves of Baltimore, Maryland, worked with eight co-conspirators to receive, possess, store, sell, and eventually dispose of stolen vehicles that had been transported across state lines.
Read: Police Arrest Four And Seize Race Car Following Illegal Drag Race In NY
It’s reported that Otero ran a large car meetup group in Baltimore and that vehicles stolen by the crime ring participated in several street takeovers where they were seen drifting and doing burnouts. It’s always been known that many of the vehicles featured at these events were stolen, but where exactly some of them came from remained a mystery. As it turns out, several of them came from this group.
What Did They Steal?
Torres, Otero, and their co-conspirators were particularly prolific. On the evening of October 3, 2023, they stole two 2017 Cadillac CTS-Vs, a 2016 CTS-V, two 2019 CTS-Vs, a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, and a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette from a car dealership in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
Late last week, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania sentenced Torres to 54 months in prison and Jose Otero Nieves to 96 months behind bars. Otero has previously been convicted of second-degree murder, so he’s no stranger to federal prison.
Seven other members of the theft ring have also been sentenced for their involvement. Sentences range from 84 months to as little as six months. A tenth member of the group, Jumaane Wright, was also identified by police, but he died before being sentenced.
