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4 from Louisiana and 1 from Texas Charged in Connection with an Interstate Auto Theft Ring

Published January 27, 2022

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Keinan Chapman, age 39, a resident of Atlanta, Georgia; Gregory Butler, age 37, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana; Tawuan Sylvester, age 46, a resident of Marrero, Louisiana; Jonathan Bush, age 35, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana; and Aaron Thibodeaux, age 36, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged in a multi-count indictment with conspiring to sell stolen cars after they were transported across state lines in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy), 18 U.S.C. § 2313 (sale and transportation of stolen cars), and 18 U.S.C. § 511 (altering vehicle identification numbers). The indictment was returned on December 10, 2021. The indictment was unsealed on January 18, 2022, following the arrest of the defendants.

The defendants are also accused of stealing cars from car dealerships and rental car facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, according to the indictment. After stealing the vehicles, the defendants retitled them with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles using fraudulent Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINS). The defendants resold the cars at a discount to buyers in the New Orleans metro area after they were retitled and cloned with fraudulent VINs.

Chapman is charged in counts 1, 5, and 9 of the indictment. Butler is charged in counts 1-7 of the indictment. Counts 1-3 are charged to Sylvester. Counts 1-4 and 6 have been filed against Bush. Thibodeaux is charged in counts 1-3, as well as count 6. The penalty under 18 U.S.C. 371 is up to five years in prison. The penalty under 18 U.S.C. 2313 is up to ten years in prison. The penalty under 18 U.S.C. 511 is up to five years in prison. Each count is also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

“We are grateful to our federal and state law enforcement partners for their continued efforts to reduce interstate car theft-related crimes in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Evans.

“Organized retail crime can have a devastating, far-reaching financial impact on our community. This alleged vehicle theft ring is estimated to have cost retailers and private citizens millions in losses,” said HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge David Denton. “These indictments are the result of the hard work and collaboration between HSI agents and our trusted law enforcement partners. Together, we will work to ensure those involved in this scheme are investigated and brought to justice.”

“Over the last two years, LSP Investigators have worked diligently alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and recover several millions worth of stolen vehicles across the Gulf South”, said Colonel Lamar Davis, Louisiana State Police Superintendent. “The success of this operation exemplifies the dedication of our personnel and the strength of our collaborative efforts to ensure public safety.”

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Spiro G. Latsis and Jon Maestri are in charge of the prosecution.

In 2019, the last full year statistics are currently available for, there were an estimated 721,885 motor vehicle thefts across the country. The estimated rate of motor vehicle theft was 219.9 per 100,000 people. The estimated number of motor vehicle thefts decreased 4.0 percent in 2019 when compared to 2018, but increased 1.2 percent when compared to 2015 estimates and decreased 2.4 percent when compared to 2010 estimates. In 2019, motor vehicle thefts cost the United States more than $6 billion. The average monetary loss per stolen vehicle was $8,886. In 2019, automobiles accounted for 74.5 percent of all stolen motor vehicles.