5 Luxury Car Theft Ring Members Sentenced In Statewide Heist

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two juveniles and three adults were sentenced for participating in a state-wide luxury auto theft ring, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel announced Thursday.

On May 9, Tikeem Shearin, 19, Carlos Espinal, 20, and Sincere Sims, 21, all of Newark,
were each sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison after pleading guilty to second-degree
leader of an auto theft trafficking ring before Union County Superior Court Judge Regina
Caulfield.

Additionally, on April 30 and May 9, two juvenile co-defendants were sentenced in Union County Family Court to three years in Jamesburg Juvenile Detention Center for their participation in an auto theft trafficking ring.

The five suspects were arrested on Sept. 12, 2024.

The four-month investigation revealed that the two juveniles, ages 16 and 17, used a stolen Kia, Honda, and Hyundai vehicles to look for high-end luxury vehicles, including BMWs, Mercedes, Range Rovers, and Audis.

After identifying target vehicles, they would go to the homes and search for keys/key fobs. Once they stole the vehicles, they would contact the adult suspects who would direct them to people who would buy the vehicles, said Daniel.

Investigators were able to document nearly $1 million in stolen vehicles taken by the five people.

The theft and possession of stolen vehicles occurred in Union, Roselle, Garwood, Kenilworth, Cranford, Hoboken, Jersey City, Maplewood, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Montville, Fair Lawn, Woodbridge, Irvington, Montclair, and Newark.

This investigation was the result of cooperation and collaboration by the Prosecutor’s Offices of Union, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Bergen and Middlesex Counties, as well as the Police Departments from Union Township, Kenilworth, Cranford, Garwood, Roselle, Maplewood, Fairfield, Irvington, Verona, Montclair, Cedar Grove, Newark, Woodbridge, Jersey City, Hoboken, Fair Lawn, Englewood Cliffs, Englewood, and Montville.

"This operation was a testament to the exceptional collaboration between law enforcement agencies spanning six counties. I want to also commend the steadfast efforts of Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Tambini and Assistant Prosecutor Alaina Caliendo for coordinating this complex investigation as well as Assistant Prosecutor Tracy Boyd for her meticulous handling of the Family Court matters. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all participating county and local police agencies for their excellent teamwork, resulting in the sentencings of these five individuals," Daniel said.

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