State authorities have charged 63 people with participating in a sprawling auto theft trafficking enterprise that allegedly stole over 90 luxury vehicles worth more than $8 million. The stolen vehicles were shipped to buyers in West Africa, primarily Ghana and Nigeria.
The investigation found that the organization operated in New Jersey and New York from June 2025 through June 2026, targeting high-end vehicles such as Range Rovers, Porsches, and BMWs. Theft crews allegedly burglarized homes to steal key fobs before taking the vehicles.
All 63 defendants are charged with first-degree racketeering and face additional charges including participation in an auto theft trafficking network, motor vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, and residential burglary.
The investigation was led by the New Jersey State Police Motor Vehicle Crimes North Unit with assistance from numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The organization is alleged to have been led by four individuals: Fatim Wingate, 26; Brian J. Peppers, 35; Adamu Alhassan, 28; and Standford Oduro, 55.
The stolen vehicles were brokered to buyers who intended to ship them to West Africa for resale. Authorities seized an Irvington shipping yard used by the organization to prepare stolen vehicles for export.
This is a significant investigation into auto theft in the region, with over $8 million worth of luxury vehicles allegedly stolen and shipped overseas.