Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley revealed today that a grand jury in Cuyahoga County has returned indictments against 11 individuals involved in an extensive car theft operation. The defendants, identified as Makilin Wilson (20), Rasheed Rountree (21), Kyer Allen (19), Dahmere Lymon (19), Willie Hicks (22), Ty’aun Williams (20), Theon Avery (20), Shaakir Maddox (21), Arthur Robinson (21), Laejuan Robinson (18), and Cory Phillips (18), have been charged with various offenses, including Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity.
A number of local dealerships fell victim to the car theft. Three dealerships in Stark County had a total of five cars stolen with an estimated value of $283,533. Carroll County also was hit as a vehicle worth $92,997 was stolen from Daystar’s dealership in Malvern.
Prosecutor O’Malley expressed his concern regarding the criminal organization, stating, “These 11 men operated a criminal organization that targeted multiple dealerships in 11 counties across Northeast Ohio. Their crime spree caused significant damage to the dealerships, affected numerous individuals, and disrupted surrounding communities. I would like to extend my personal gratitude to the 34 law enforcement agencies involved in dismantling this group. They will be held accountable for their actions.”
Between November 2, 2022, and March 17, 2023, the defendants carried out a series of break-ins at 26 car dealerships and three apartment complexes located in 27 cities across 11 counties in Northeast Ohio. Their activities resulted in the theft of a staggering 86 vehicles, estimated to be worth approximately $5.1 million. The defendants targeted specific dealerships, with some being broken into multiple times. Additionally, three incidents occurred at residential complexes.
The indictment reveals that some of the stolen vehicles were used in violent crimes, including an assault on a peace officer on January 5, 2023, and a drive-by shooting on February 14, 2023. In several instances, the defendants engaged in high-speed pursuits with law enforcement officers responding to the scene of the car dealership break-ins.
The investigation involved the collaborative efforts of 34 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Cleveland Division of Police, Euclid Police Department, Parma Police Department, Strongsville Police Department, North Olmsted Police Department, and many others. The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Marshals also provided invaluable assistance throughout the investigation.
The impact of this criminal enterprise extended to 11 counties, with dealerships located in cities such as Cleveland, Parma, Mayfield Heights, Strongsville, North Olmsted, Bedford, Solon, Euclid, and Brooklyn being among the targets. The stolen vehicles were recovered from various locations within these counties.
The defendants face an array of charges, including Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity, Aggravated Theft, Conspiracy, Breaking and Entering, Grand Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, Attempted Breaking and Entering, Failure to Comply, Obstructing Official Business, Felonious Assault, and Aggravated Robbery. Each individual will be held accountable for their alleged involvement in this criminal operation.
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office collaborated closely with the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, Medina County Prosecutor’s Office, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Portage County Prosecutor’s Office, Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, and Carroll County Prosecutor’s Office to ensure a unified approach to the jurisdictional matters.
Prosecutor O’Malley commended the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies involved and pledged to continue working to take down car theft rings.
The 86 vehicles that were stolen and charged in the indictment are as follows:
- Dodge Chargers – four
- Dodge Challengers – 14
- Cadillac – one
- BMWs – 12
- Jeep Wrangler – one
- Mustangs – two
- Jeep Grand Cherokees – 10
- Land Rovers – five
- Range Rover – one
- Mercedes – 14
- Audis – four
- Dodge Rams – two
- Jeep Compass – one
- Chevy Tahoe – one
- Ford Expedition – one
- Kia K5 – one
- Dodge Durango – seven
- Porsche – one
- Jaguars – two
- Lexus – one
- Volvo – one