Hosea Fernandez Hampton, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison on July 9 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Hampton will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court documents and proceedings, Hampton led an organized auto theft ring that stole more than 100 high-end vehicles worth millions from dealerships across multiple states between 2021 and 2023. The group targeted luxury brands such as Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and other expensive models from manufacturers including Chevrolet and Ford. “This was a sophisticated car-stealing operation by professional criminals across multiple states,” said Ferguson. “Hampton now has years behind bars to contemplate whether a life of crime is worth the loss of his freedom.”
Hampton’s four co-defendants—Dewanne Lamar White (108 months), Kevin Ja’Coryen James Fields (96 months), Reginald Eugene Hill (60 months), and Garyka Vaughn Bost (12 months and one day)—were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to related charges.
The scheme involved posing as customers at dealerships before swapping key fobs or breaking into lockboxes during smash-and-grab thefts. Once stolen vehicles were removed from lots—including instances where several cars were taken simultaneously—the group avoided law enforcement detection by removing GPS tracking systems and attaching fictitious tags or license plates before transporting the vehicles back to Charlotte for resale below market value.
Court records indicate that Hampton frequently organized thefts by identifying targets and recruiting drivers who transported the stolen vehicles for payment. During one incident in Flagler, Florida, law enforcement stopped Hampton driving a blue BMW M5 reported stolen from Wilmington; officers found key fobs and a Glock firearm under the driver’s seat.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina advances public safety through initiatives addressing elder abuse and substance abuse; it maintains facilities in Charlotte and Asheville; operates under the U.S. Department of Justice; employs nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support staff; handles prosecutions of federal crimes as well as civil actions for the government; covers regions including half of Great Smoky Mountains National Park along with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians community—all according to its official website.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan are prosecuting this case.