7 people face 99 charges in connection with organized vehicle theft ring: RCMP

A number of people are facing dozens of charges connected to an organized car-theft ring responsible for stealing nearly 200 vehicles.

Seven people face 99 charges in connection with an organized vehicle theft ring.

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RCMP say its Auto Theft Unit began investigating numerous people in December after finding they were using Alberta Registries’ Third-Party Authorization System to register fake VINs under unsuspecting persons’ names without their permission. The fraudulent VINs were then used to conceal stolen vehicles.

Since the investigation, police have recovered about $1.9 million in stolen vehicles and are working to locate another 150. Mounties have also seized more than one kilogram of cocaine, more than 200 OxyContin pills and nearly $10,000 in cash.

One 40-year-old man from Edmonton faces 28 counts of uttering forged document charges. He also faces dozens of other charges including fraudulent concealment, fraud over $5,000, possession for the purpose of trafficking, participation in criminal organization and more.

Another 40-year-old man from Edmonton faces 22 counts of uttering forged documents as well as fraudulent concealment and fraud over $5,000.

Two other men face uttering forged document charges as well as fraud over $5,000 and trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000.

The four are to appear in court on July 29.

Warrants are out for three others who each face several counts of uttering forged document charges.