Washington: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States announced the bust and indictment of an international car-theft syndicate linked to Ghana. On April 22, 2026, the FBI revealed details of their operation, which culminated in the arrest of six individuals believed to be key members of the syndicate, following a comprehensive year-long investigation.
According to Ghana Web, a statement from the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia specified that the syndicate mainly operated in Washington and Pennsylvania. The group allegedly stole vehicles and sold them both domestically and internationally, specifically targeting the market in Ghana. A 15-count indictment was unsealed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, charging the six individuals with their roles in a conspiracy that involved stealing at least 20 cars in Washington and Pennsylvania, transporting them across state lines, and selling them to buyers in the US and Ghana.
The investigation highlighted that over 100 vehicles were stolen in the District of Columbia, with an additional 30 vehicles taken from Prince George's County, Maryland. The suspects reportedly employed electronic devices to reprogram car systems to accept previously blank key fobs, facilitating the thefts.
The indictment detailed that the stolen vehicles, primarily Honda Civics, CR-Vs, and Acura TLXs and RDXs, were transported to storage locations, including a parking garage in Southeast Washington, D.C. At these locations, co-conspirators disguised the vehicles by changing license plates and obscuring Vehicle Identification Numbers. To avoid detection, the defendants disabled the vehicles' GPS and Bluetooth systems before transporting them.
The individuals arrested are Jacob Hernandez, 29, of Los Angeles; Dustin Wetzel, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia; James Young, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland; Khobe David, 24, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; and Chance Clark, 25, of Waldorf, Maryland. They face charges of conspiracy to possess, sell, and transport stolen motor vehicles.
The authorities noted that a seventh suspect remains at large and is considered a fugitive, with the indictment against this individual still sealed.