LANSING – Davonta Jones, 31, of Detroit, was sentenced to 15 months-20 years’ incarnation on August 27 after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise that occurred throughout 2024, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Jones was sentenced for his role in a large-scale criminal organization responsible for the thefts of hundreds of vehicles in Southeast Michigan. The Attorney General first announced the investigation into the auto theft ring in May 2024.
The criminal ring targeted new vehicle storage lots at manufacturing facilities, car dealerships, parking lots, and individual residences. The stolen vehicles were sold exponentially below market value on the black market to buyers seeking unregistered vehicles. The operation operated in over 40 jurisdictions in Oakland, Washtenaw, Macomb, and Wayne counties, with other instances occurring in Eaton and Kent counties.
The Troy Police Department, investigating this crime ring since August 2023, partnered with the FORCE Team in early 2024 to bring down this expansive criminal organization. The investigation has been aided by the efforts of local police agencies, including the municipal police departments of Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Canton, Dearborn, Detroit, Eastpointe, Farmington Hills, Lansing, Livonia, Novi, Roseville, Royal Oak, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Walled Lake, and Warren, as well as the Oakland County Auto Theft Group and the Macomb County Auto Theft Unit.
Several other members of the criminal organization have also been sentenced in connection with the investigation:
- Davion Tucker, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced to 30 months-20 years’ incarceration in June after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
- Donovan Tucker, 23, of Detroit, was sentenced to 8 months’ incarceration and 3 years of probation in May after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
- Timothy Bell, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced to 34 months-20 years’ incarceration in July after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
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Jerry Burton, 20, of Detroit, was sentenced to 91 days’ incarceration in February after pleading guilty to one count of Attempting to Conduct a Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Stolen Property - Receiving and Concealing a Motor Vehicle.
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Omari Roetherford, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced to 1 year of incarceration in August 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of Stolen Property - Receiving and Concealing a Motor Vehicle.
- Braylen Green, 21, of Wixom, was sentenced to 3-20 years’ incarceration in August after pleading guilty to Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
- Joseph Doyle, 26, of Onstead, was sentenced to 30 months’ incarceration in December 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
- Zamarr Johnson, 20, of Troy, was sentenced to 3-20 years’ incarceration in March after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
- Kevin Stevenson, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced to 5-20 years’ incarceration in June after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
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Desmond Wilson, 22, of Detroit, was sentenced to 18 months-20 years’ incarceration in November 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise and two counts of Stolen Property - Receiving and Concealing a Motor Vehicle.
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Dejohn Bush, 21, of Detroit, was sentenced to 1 year of incarceration in September 2024 after pleading guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise.
“The success of this investigation is a direct result of the FORCE Team’s collaboration with the Troy Police Department and police agencies across Southeast Michigan,” Nessel said. “Together, they devoted countless hours to dismantling a large-scale auto theft ring that harmed communities throughout our state. We will continue to work with our law enforcement and retail partners to hold those who engaged in organized crime accountable and to protect the safety and security of Michigan’s residents and businesses.”
The FORCE Team was established in January 2023 by the Attorney General to target criminal organizations that steal products from retailers to repackage and sell for a profit. Two assistant attorneys general serve the unit full time, working with special agents within the Department of Attorney General and Michigan State Police detectives to investigate and prosecute these crimes. The FORCE team also partners with the FBI’s Detroit Fraud and Financial Crimes Task Force and the Postal Inspection Service. This is a first-in-the-nation unit, unique in the 50 states as being the first such unit with embedded, dedicated staff from the Department of Attorney General.
The FORCE Team is dedicated to working collaboratively with retailers and local law enforcement agencies to combat organized retail crime. FORCE is an acronym that stands for Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement. Recent corporate partners on investigations have included Sam’s Club/Walmart, Meijer, Target, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, Rite-Aid, Lululemon, Ulta Beauty, Amazon, and Lowe’s.
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