Three men from Charlotte, North Carolina, are facing federal charges for their involvement in a scheme to steal and transport luxury vehicles worth over $5 million across state lines. The indictment was filed in June and unsealed recently in federal court.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina announced the charges alongside Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
The accused individuals, Aquanzae Jamal Switzer, Da’Quante Antwone Banks, both 24 years old, and Trajan Dakiel Mack, 26 years old, are charged with conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles across state lines. They also face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
“This multi-state automobile theft ring was organized and sophisticated,” stated U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Organized crime has no place in the Western District of North Carolina, and I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for disrupting this operation.”
According to the indictment, between 2022 and April 2024, Switzer, Banks, and Mack conspired to steal high-end vehicles from various locations including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. The targeted models included luxury brands such as BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes as well as high-performance models by Chevrolet and Ford.
The defendants allegedly stole multiple vehicles at once using key fob programmers during nighttime operations. They reportedly collaborated with others who drove the stolen cars. An example cited in the indictment is the theft of 12 vehicles from a dealership in Lillington, North Carolina. To evade detection they used temporary tags on these vehicles removed GPS systems altered appearances soon after thefts.
Further allegations suggest that some stolen cars were sold below retail value while others were kept for personal use or furthering criminal activities.
If convicted on all counts Switzer Banks Mack could face significant prison time; conspiracy carries up five-year maximum penalty whereas possession transportation each carry ten-year penalties per charge upon conviction federal district judge would determine sentences based guidelines statutory factors.
This case marks sixth similar indictment involving interstate vehicle theft since 2023 within U.S District Court Charlotte highlighting ongoing issue region previously several other individuals faced charges related luxury car thefts dealerships airports nationwide illustrating widespread nature problem area authorities continue efforts combat crime prosecute offenders involved these schemes
Charges against defendants remain allegations presumption innocence applies until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law
U.S Attorney Ferguson praised investigative work Secret Service CMPD expressed gratitude towards FBI National Insurance Crime Bureau Homeland Security Investigations supporting prior prosecutions Assistant U.S Attorneys William Bozin Daniel Ryan prosecuting current cases
