United States Attorney David Metcalf announced on Apr. 28 that two men have been sentenced to more than three years in prison for conspiring to steal dozens of vehicles from rental companies, dealerships, and other businesses in and around Pennsylvania.
The sentencing follows a scheme that targeted local businesses by taking cars, tractors, and backhoes through fraudulent means. Authorities said the actions caused significant financial losses to the affected companies.
Tariq Bennett, age 31 of Philadelphia, received a sentence of 39 months’ incarceration along with three years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $502,070.13 in restitution and a special assessment of $2,600. Syheed Goodman, age 37 of Upper Darby, was sentenced to the same prison term and supervised release period but must pay $939,295.48 in restitution as well as a special assessment of $2,700.
According to court filings and statements provided by prosecutors, Bennett and Goodman pleaded guilty last year after being charged by superseding indictment in June 2024 with more than two dozen counts each—including conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and transportation of a stolen vehicle. From October 2021 through October 2023 they worked together with another co-conspirator using test drives or fraudulent purchases to acquire vehicles which were then not returned or paid for.
The defendants used fabricated driver’s licenses containing either real victims’ information purchased online or details belonging to fictitious individuals when obtaining the vehicles. They later sold these stolen vehicles—sometimes transporting them across state lines—to third parties.
In total at least 46 vehicles were stolen during this conspiracy according to authorities. The case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies including the FBI Philadelphia Organized Crime Task Force; Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security Investigations; Abington Police Department; Bensalem Township Police Department; Plymouth Township Police Department; Springfield Township Police Department; and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meghan Claiborne Bisio.
