Two Defendants Plead Guilty In Federal Conspiracies Involving High-End Stolen Vehicle Rings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two defendants appeared in federal court today and entered guilty pleas for their respective roles in cases involving high-end stolen vehicles worth millions of dollars, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.

According to filed documents and statements made in court, Andre Lamar Sumner, 41, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to violate federal law, including by transporting and possessing stolen vehicles in interstate commerce, and altering vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Sumner also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. According to filed court documents, between 2022 and 2024, Sumner and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to buy and sell high-end motor vehicles that were stolen from car dealerships, rental car companies, and private parties across the United States, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Missouri.

Sumner operated as a “fence” in the conspiracy, arranging the buying and selling of the stolen motor vehicles. A fence is someone who assists in finding or dealing with buyers for stolen properties. To maximize profits, Sumner sought to fence high-end stolen vehicles such as luxury models made by BMW, Land Rover, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Rolls-Royce, as well as trucks and other expensive modes from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and RAM. As court documents show, Sumner and his co-conspirators possessed stolen vehicles with an estimated value well over $2 million.

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