Six charged in $4 million Northeast rental car theft ring

Six individuals face federal charges for a multi-year scheme that allegedly involved stealing approximately 150 rental cars valued at over $4 million across the Northeastern United States. The defendants—Kaheem Archer, Calvin Bent, Christine Ferguson, Lamont Martin, Ajani McChriston, and Chad Reed—are accused of using forged driver’s licenses and credit cards obtained through stolen identities to reserve vehicles.

According to prosecutors, the group would pick up the cars and transport them to Manhattan or the Bronx, often selling them on the secondary market for roughly $2,000 per vehicle. This price was reportedly driven by the short window of anonymity provided while the cars still possessed valid registration and insurance.

Authorities noted that some of the stolen vehicles were subsequently used in connection with violent crimes in the New York area. The defendants face charges including conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.