Theft Ring Tied To Philly Cop's Slaying Broken Up

PHILADELPHIA — Authorities in New Jersey broke up an auto-theft ring that's linked to the killing of a Philadelphia police officer two years ago.

According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the Camden-based criminal enterprise primarily stole higher-value vehicles from car dealerships and airport parking lots, sometimes firing weapons when people tried to stop them.

In one case, members of the enterprise shot two Philadelphia police officers while breaking into a vehicle at a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage in October 2023, the OAG said.

One of the officers, Richard Mendez, was killed, while Officer Raul Ortiz was wounded, authorities said.

All four people involved in the break-in and shooting acted as theft crews for the enterprise, the OAG said. Three of them — Camden residents Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, Alexander Batista-Polanco and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez — were charged in the incident. A fourth member was shot during the incident and succumbed to his injuries.

Ring leader Alexi Vargas, 24, of Pennsauken, perpetrated a shooting a month prior in Winslow Township, the OAG said.

Vargas led the enterprise with his brother — Alex Vargas, 27, of Camden — authorities said.

From mid-2021 to early 2024, the Vargas brothers coordinated vehicle thefts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, the OAG said.

The brothers would identify locations for co-conspirators to steal higher-value vehicles such as Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Chargers and Durangos, and Ram trucks, the OAG said.

Each vehicle was stolen similarly, the OAG said. Crew members broke the back window with screwdrivers, wrenches, or bolt cutters and used a key re-programmer before driving them back to Camden County, according to law enforcement.

The vehicles were then advertised for sale via social media and text messaging, the OAG said.

One member, Jimmy Marte-Toledo, used his family member's business to create fraudulent, temporary registrations for each vehicle, authorities said.

The enterprise was linked to 41 stolen vehicles, including more than 20 from Pennsylvania, the OAG said.

All 13 suspects were charged with racketeering and other counts, including promoting organized street crime, conspiracy, theft and weapons offenses.

The OAG says they filled various roles in the theft ring, including:

• Alex and Alexi Vargas: researching and finding specific vehicles to steal.
• Alex Vargas: using the key re-programmer for vehicle thefts.
• Albert Santana-Fernandez: managing lower-level members.
• Alex and Alexi Vargas, Albert Santana-Fernandez, Franklyn Rodriguez-Santana, Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, Randy Garcia-Liriano, Alexander Batista-Polanco, Jeitoni Suarez-Cuevas, Lewys Santana-Pichardo, Nelfi Fortuna-Fernandez, and Hendrick Pena-Fernandez: theft crews.
• Santana-Pichardo: creating new Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).
• Jimmy Marte-Toledo: creating fake registrations.
• Alex, Alexi, Marte-Toledo, Garcia-Liriano, and Santana-Pichardo: “fencers,” who sold the stolen vehicles with new, fraudulent documentation.

Attorney information for the defendants wasn't immediately available.