Davis police have arrested three Bay Area residents who allegedly schemed to buy pricey car engines with stolen credit card information.
Lt. Paul Doroshov said the investigation began last month when a woman purchased a Corvette engine at Hanlees Chevrolet in South Davis with what turned out to be a stolen credit card. The dealership reported the incident to police upon discovering the fraudulent data.
On Monday, the woman returned to Davis to pick up the $14,000 engine, after which she delivered the goods to an Oakland automotive business — all under the watch of two police detectives, Doroshov said.
Upon the woman’s arrival at Best Tires and Auto Repair, the detectives arrested the woman, along with two men to whom she turned over the fraudulently purchased engine, Doroshov said. Police also served search warrants at the business and a nearby residence, reportedly recovering four additional engines allegedly bought with stolen credit cards, as well as materials apparently used to manufacture the cards.
Jonece McMichael, 23; of Oakland; Obama Carter, 36, of Oakland; and Nicholas Pree, 25, of El Cerrito; were booked into the Yolo County Jail on suspicion of burglary, grand theft and credit card fraud, Doroshov said.
Carter and Pree face additional charges of conspiracy, identity theft and receiving stolen property.
Doroshov said the suspects are believed to be responsible for completed or attempted fraudulent purchases at dealerships in the Sacramento region. He credited Hanlees Chevorlet as well as Maita Chevrolet in Elk Grove for cooperating with police during the investigation.
— Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net or 530-747-8048. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene