An Orland Park woman and a rap artist from Lansing face felony identify and car theft charges as the alleged leaders in a scheme to fraudulently purchase luxury vehicles, state officials announced this week.
Sierra Wells, 27, and Anthony Brown, 40, of Lansing, are charged with identity theft, aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, organizing a continuing financial crimes enterprise, theft by deception, financial institution fraud and forgery, according to a news release. If convicted, the two could face six to 30 years in prison.
The charges, announced at a press conference this week, are the result of an investigation through Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Organized Task Force into the statewide car theft ring. Brown also is known as Lansing rapper Tony Sosa, according to the news release.
The two are alleged to have worked with others and used stolen identities to fraudulently purchase luxury vehicles at Chicago-area car dealerships, authorities said. According to a news release, Wells provided Brown with the false identities. Brown then used drugs and money to recruit others to use the fake identities and finance cars, according to a news release. The scheme resulted in a loss of about $100,000 for car dealerships and financial institutions.
During the press conference, authorities with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office identified four car dealerships in Villa Park, Westmont and Naperville that were impacted by the thefts.
Four others are accused of assisting in the crime ring. Kevin Bandy, 48; DeAngelo Hackney, 30; James Krout, 47; and Zebedee Moore, 48, were charged with identity theft, aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft by deception, financial institution fraud and forgery, officials said. If convicted, each could face two to 15 years in prison. Authorities allege the four were recruited by Brown to make the fraudulent purchases.
According to a news release, Raoul’s office partnered with the West Chicago and Barrington police departments to look into a pattern of what appeared to be isolated retail auto thefts. The investigation, which spanned years, included assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and officials in the banking, insurance and automotive industry, according to a news release.
“The charges in these cases send a message that state and county law enforcement officials will work together and use all available resources to combat crime and make our communities safer,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin said.
Berlin said car theft cases have “skyrocketed’ in the past two years and result in more than $223 million in losses annually statewide and more than $5.7 million in losses each year in DuPage County.
Chicago Automobile Trade Association President Dave Sloan said stolen vehicles often are used in other crimes.
“Curtailing this theft will go a long way toward making things better throughout Chicagoland … we hope this is just the beginning of more indictments like this,” Sloan said.
The cases were charged in DuPage and Cook counties.
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