Long Island High-End Car Thieves Face Upgraded Charges In Ruse: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — Two Long Island men, who investigators say were part of a trio of high-end car thieves who sealed the deals on high-end rides by swiping the identities of potentially 35 people, are facing a slew of upgraded charges in an indictment, Suffolk prosecutors said Monday.

Kevin McCarthy, 31, of Selden, and Matthew Hibner, 36, of Huntington Station, and Tiansi Gong, 26, of Manhattan, were indicted for first-degree scheme to defraud and fourth-degree conspiracy in connection with purchasing high-end vehicles through identity theft, District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said.

One of the men's girlfriends, Emily Figueroa, was also indicted for hindering the prosecution in connection with the case.

McCarthy is being represented by Joseph Cozzo of Central Islip, Figueroa by Jeremy Scileppi, of Holbrook, and Gong by Kenneth Kushner, respectively.

None could be immediately reached after business hours on Monday.

A defense attorney for Hibner, Eric Franz, of Carle Place, says his client maintains his innocence and had "no knowledge that the vehicles were stolen."

In a news release, Tierney noted that identity theft causes "serious financial and emotional trauma to victims, but when defendants escalate to violence against law enforcement, they cross an even more dangerous line."

“Our office is committed to holding accountable those who prey on innocent victims and endanger the safety of our officers," he said.

Homeland Security Investigations New York Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel said the defendants "are accused of sweeping crimes that demonstrated a propensity toward violence and a blatant disregard for the public’s safety and well-being."

“HSI New York is proud to work with our law enforcement partners in our shared commitment to dismantling criminal organizations’ intent on harming innocent New Yorkers," Patel added.

United States Postal Inspection Services' New York Division's Acting Inspector in Charge Ed Gallashaw said the case "highlights the lengths criminals will go to defraud the American public."

"These individuals expected to capitalize from identity theft and joyride in their ill-gotten gains, however when you use the U.S. Mail for illegal activity, you should also expect to be caught and brought to justice," he said. "We commend the work of the Suffolk County Police Department Auto Crimes Unit and our law enforcement partners for putting the brakes on this high-speed crime.”

In April, Suffolk police's Property Auto Crimes Unit launched a probe into a number of stolen high-end vehicles with detectives initially tracing the vehicles to a lot on Zorn Avenue in Yaphank where they saw McCarthy and Hibner driving three stolen vehicles on a number of occasions.

McCarthy and Hibner were seen driving a 2022 Dodge Challenger, a 2025 Cadillac CT5, and a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro.

On May 1, 2025, McCarthy was seen driving the stolen Challenger from the Zorn Avenue lot to a 7-Eleven convenience store in Bellport when law enforcement tried to stop him, prosecutors said, adding that after investigators identified themselves and tried to arrest McCarthy, he refused to stop his vehicle.

His girlfriend, Figueroa, 42, of Coram, was a passenger in the vehicle during the exchange, according to prosecutors.

When the detective tried to lean into McCarthy’s driver's side window to arrest him, he put the Challenger in reverse, rammed the unmarked police vehicle behind him, accelerated the speed, and pushed the police vehicle several feet backwards, prosecutors said.

McCarthy then placed the Challenger into drive and sped away, dragging the detective and injuring him, according to prosecutors.

During the flight, Figueroa "concealed" McCarthy’s loaded firearm, and paid for a ridesharing service after they ditched the Challenger, prosecutors said, adding that McCarthy was caught a short time later at Figueroa’s home.

During his arrest, McCarthy was caught with a loaded .9mm semiautomatic pistol, over one-half ounce of cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin, which is commonly referred to as mushrooms, and over 40 vehicle titles and keys to 58 different vehicles, according to prosecutors.

That same day, at a simultaneous surveillance taking place in Huntington Station, Hibner was arrested near his home as he went inside a stolen Chevrolet Camaro, prosecutors said.

Also, on May 7, a court-authorized search warrant was obtained to search the Zorn Avenue Lot in Yapank, and during the execution of the warrant, investigators discovered several more stolen vehicles, including a stolen 2025 Cadillac CT5, according to prosecutors.

Detectives ended up tracing the stolen vehicles, finding that the Dodge Challenger that McCarthy escaped from police in, as well as the Chevrolet Camaro Hibner was about to get into during his arrest, and the Cadillac CT5 at the Zorn Avenue lot, were each purchased from dealerships with stolen identities, prosecutors said.

The identity theft victims were initially unaware that their credit was used to purchase the cars, however, investigators found that over half a million dollars in vehicle loans had been fraudulently opened in their names, according to prosecutors.

Investigators spoke to the car dealerships where the stolen cars were purchased and, in each instance, dealership employees identified Gong as the person who used stolen identities to make the purchases, prosecutors said, adding that an investigation into the stolen vehicles’ registration addresses led to Gong’s Roosevelt Island apartment.

In a May 29 court-authorized search warrant executed at Gong’s apartment, investigators found financial records linking him to the stolen cars, as well as financial documents pertaining to 33 other identities, according to prosecutors.

In the documents, which included financial records such as investment and retirement accounts, investigators identified some of the victims and are continuing to work to identify all potential victims, prosecutors said.

One of the victims, whose identity was stolen works full-time for Uber driving a minivan, and Gong used the person's identity to purchase a Cadillac with a retail value of $200,000, according to prosecutors.

In December 2024, Gong was pulled over for a traffic violation by the New York Police Department and presented the person's identification, causing traffic tickets and the associated Driver Violation Points to be issued in the victim’s name, jeopardizing the person's license and work as an Uber driver, prosecutors said.

To date, over 35 potential identity theft victims have been identified, according to prosecutors.

McCarthy and Hibner were also arraigned on second-and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property charges.

McCarthy was additionally charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as second, third, and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as second-degree assault. Other charges he faces include first-degree attempted escape, as well as criminal mischief and reckless driving.

He is being held on $750,000, $2 million bond, or $10 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on Aug. 19, and faces 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count.

Gong will be held on $750,000 cash, $1.5 million bond, or $7 million partially secured bond during the pendency of his case. He is due back in court on July 31, and faces one and one-third to four years in prison if convicted on the top count.

On June 30, Figueroa was arraigned for second-degree hindering prosecution, and was released from jail without bail because her charge is considered non-bail eligible under current state law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.

She is due back in court on July 28, and faces one and one-third to four years in prison if convicted on the top count.

Hibner was released on his own recognizance because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.

He is due back in court on Aug. 25, and faces one and one-third to four years in prison if convicted on the top count.