Several people were charged in connection to a largescale car theft ring based out of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in which vehicles were stolen and then resold using fake titles and fraudulent insurance information, officials said. The investigation began on Aug. 19, 2025, when a Pennsylvani a state trooper ran background checks on vehicles parked at the Knights Inn on the 2700 block of Lincoln Highway in Bensalem Township. The trooper spotted a 2019 black Honda Accord. A background check revealed the vehicle had been involved in a recent crash in which it was deemed a total loss. Records also showed a potential odometer rollback on the car, according to the criminal complaint. The trooper also reviewed photos of the vehicle from records which showed discrepancies between the car in the pictures and the vehicle in the parking lot, including the color of the interior, officials said. The trooper located the owner of the vehicle who was staying in a nearby hotel room. The man said he had bought the car through Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Through the man, police identified the person who sold him the car. Investigators also determined the car had been stolen out of Philadelphia on Aug. 27, 2024. While the man who sold the vehicle gave the customer a Michigan title for the car that was dated back to Feb. 16, 2023, police found no record of the title number. Investigators also said the customer was given a remote-start key with a generic key fob that was not made by Honda. Further investigation revealed the Honda Accord was one of at least 50 vehicles that had been stolen as part of an extensive car theft ring, police said. Members of the organization – which was based out of a storage facility in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania — stole the vehicles, selected an inactive Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and then created or used falsified out-of-state titles and fake insurance documents, according to the criminal complaint. During a search of the storage facility, police also found illegal drugs and car parts, according to police. Investigators also said the suspects altered the stolen vehicles to match the fake documents and exploited interjurisdictional verification gaps to obtain Pennsylvania titles and registration that appeared to be legal. They then sold the vehicles to customers who had no idea the cars had been stolen, according to police. The stolen vehicles included multiple Honda Odysseys, multiple Honda Accords, multiple Honda CRVs, an Acura TLX, an Aston Martin DBX and a Rolls Royce, investigators said. The suspects sold the stolen vehicles at low prices, attracting customers from outside Pennsylvania, according to police. During one incident, a customer paid more than $10,000 for a car but was stopped at a Montgomery County gas station minutes later after police ran the plate and determined the vehicle had been stolen. In another incident, a woman called a Bucks County auto tag shop after being suspicious of the seller and learned the car she was about to buy had been stolen, officials said. Investigators identified the following people as members of the car theft ring: Reginald Manson, 45, of Philadelphia Kimekia Mayo, 39, of Philadelphia Tysherah Dixon, 29, of Bensalem Henry Williams Jr., 20, of Philadelphia Manaya Williams, 26, of Philadelphia Darryl Sturgis, 55, of Philadelphia Lamont King, 56, of Philadelphia Montez Wilson, 41, of Bensalem Shyleel Brister, 25, of Philadelphia The suspects face a wide variety of charges, including corrupt organizations, receiving stolen property, forgery, washing vehicle titles, altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates, and dealing in titles and plates for stolen vehicles. Investigators continue to search for more suspects they believe were involved in the car theft ring. How to avoid buying stolen vehicles Police are warning residents to do proper research before buying a vehicle. “Criminals are getting much better at victimizing people. We’re asking people to do their due diligence. Do a VIN verification at a police department,” Pennsylvania State Trooper Nathan Branosky said. “Before you hand over any kind of money, you have to verify whether or not that vehicle’s good or not.” You can verify a vehicle’s VIN by visiting any police department, both state and local. You can also use the website Carfax. Also be sure to check the key fob before purchasing a vehicle. If the fob is generic and doesn’t match the make of the vehicle, it’s likely not legit. ...read more read less