An Alabama man has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for his involvement in a multi-state conspiracy to steal luxury vehicles, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
On Monday, June 3, the DOJ confirmed that 29-year-old Darius Alexander Parks of Birmingham was sentenced to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Parks was found guilty of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles in interstate commerce. According to court records, between March 2021 and October 2021, Parks and others worked together to steal high-end cars, including Dodge Chargers, Dodge Challengers, and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500s, from dealerships across several states, including Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
Investigators said that once the vehicles were stolen, the group would transport them across state lines, often using counterfeit documents and cloned key fobs.
These stolen vehicles were then either sold or used for further criminal activities. The thefts were carried out primarily at night, and the group used social media and encrypted messaging apps to coordinate their moves.
The operation was brought down following a joint investigation led by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.
The indictment stated that the group targeted specific dealerships with weak security systems and took advantage of nighttime hours to avoid detection. Law enforcement officials said the thieves used advanced tools to bypass ignition systems and avoid security alarms.
Parks was arrested in 2022 and pleaded guilty in 2023. During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the financial damage done to multiple businesses. According to court documents, the total value of the stolen vehicles was estimated at over $800,000.
In addition to the prison sentence, Parks was ordered to pay restitution to the affected dealerships and insurance companies. Federal prosecutors said the case sends a strong message about the consequences of organized vehicle theft operations.
The DOJ praised the work of multiple law enforcement agencies in helping bring the case to a close. The FBI’s Birmingham Field Office played a key role in the investigation, alongside state and local partners in Alabama and Georgia.
Vehicle theft, especially involving high-value cars, has been on the rise across the U.S. in recent years. Criminals often use sophisticated methods to bypass vehicle security, and in many cases, stolen vehicles are quickly moved out of state or even out of the country.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has advised car dealerships and owners to be vigilant and invest in stronger security systems.
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, over 1 million vehicles were stolen in the U.S. in 2022, marking a significant increase from previous years. Many of these thefts involved criminal networks operating across state lines, similar to the one Parks was a part of.
The DOJ’s announcement about Parks’ sentencing also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between federal and local agencies to combat auto theft. U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona of the Northern District of Alabama said the successful prosecution reflects the department’s commitment to dismantling organized crime.
This case is part of a broader crackdown on interstate vehicle theft rings, with several other suspects still under investigation or awaiting trial.
Law enforcement agencies have warned that even as technology advances, so do the tools used by criminals, making such crimes harder to detect and prevent.