A Lehigh Acres man is among three people indicted by a federal grand jury in a scheme involving the theft and resale of high-end vehicles across state lines.
The indictment, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charges Michel Serrano, 34, with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles and the sale and possession of stolen motor vehicles.
He also faces two counts of interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in federal prison.
Julio Sanchez, 35, of Redwood City, Calif., and Angel Mares, 56, of San Jose, Calif., were also indicted on conspiracy charges and face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Federal prosecutors say that from June 2020 through May 2021, Serrano, Sanchez, Mares, and their co-conspirators stole luxury vehicles from dealerships, homes, parking garages, and businesses across Florida.
The stolen vehicles had their vehicle identification numbers (VINs) altered before being transported across state lines on semi-trucks for resale. Prosecutors say the conspirators provided buyers with fraudulent vehicle registrations and titles in California for an extra fee, accepting cash and checks as payment.
The indictment also includes a forfeiture notice seeking to recover any property or proceeds tied to the alleged crimes.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Florida Highway Patrol, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies across Florida and California.
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