Attorney General Rob Bonta | Facebook Website
Attorney General Rob Bonta | Facebook Website
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced felony charges against three individuals allegedly involved in 13 vehicle thefts or attempted thefts across California. The incidents, occurring between July 2023 and March 2024, involved a large-scale conspiracy to steal high-performance vehicles from the counties of El Dorado, Kings, Monterey, Riverside, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Tulare. The Department of Justice's Special Prosecutions Section filed the charges following an investigation and arrests conducted by the Visalia Police Department.
“At the California Department of Justice, we are fighting organized crime in the field and in the courtroom,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We will not tolerate theft that endangers our communities. I am thankful for strong partnerships with local law enforcement that make California a safer state. When we work together, we get results.”
The total value of the stolen vehicles exceeds $600,000. The DOJ’s Special Prosecution Section has filed charges in El Dorado County for felony conspiracy, vehicle theft, possession of stolen vehicles, vandalism, receipt of stolen property, and operating a chop shop.
The DOJ’s Special Prosecution Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complex criminal cases in California related to financial frauds such as securities and mortgage fraud; public corruption; underground economy offenses including tax fraud and counterfeiting; and human trafficking. These cases often involve multi-jurisdictional criminal activity and are handled by vertical teams comprising prosecutors, investigators, auditors, and paralegals working alongside federal and local authorities.
A copy of the criminal complaint can be found here.
It is important to note that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.