FBI breaks up multistate theft ring

Published 10:57 pm Friday, July 21, 2006

The FBI has arrested 11 people the bureau said were involved in a major car-theft ring that targeted luxury vehicles.

The suspects stole Hummers, Cadillacs and sports utility vehicles, then changed the vehicle identification numbers and produced fraudulent titles to sell the cars, according to the FBI. They were charged with conspiracy, theft and interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles.

“These arrests are the result of an extremely difficult and tedious investigation on the part of the FBI and all the agents and law enforcement officers involved,” said John Raucci, FBI special agent in charge of Mississippi.

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Arrested were: Lee Winstead, 29, of Hattiesburg; Cedrick James Bourn, 29, of Hattiesburg; Marlon Malbry, 34, of Jackson; Joshua Frady, 36, of Columbus; Melanie Digrazia, 25, of Terry; Kendrick Silas, 25, of Greenwood; Abe Crosby, 41, of Belleville, Ill., and Roy L. Wilson Jr., 29, of Cahokia, Ill.

Three other men who were indicted on charges stemming from the investigation are already serving time for other crimes. They are: Gerald Mack, 29; Jamaal Redd, 24; and Alvin Cooks Jr., 25. Their hometowns were not available.