‘Gone in 60 Seconds’: Feds Say High‑Tech Ring Rewrote Car Computers With Autel Device

Federal prosecutors unsealed a 15‑count indictment alleging a sophisticated car‑theft ring used electronic tools to steal vehicles in under a minute without keys, broken windows or hot wiring. Authorities say the group used an Autel device to overwrite vehicles' onboard computers and program blank key fobs, enabling rapid, low‑visibility thefts and a well‑organized export pipeline.

What Prosecutors Allege

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment, saying the suspects operated across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Pennsylvania and targeted a broad range of cars — from high‑end Corvettes and Camaros to popular models like the Honda Civic.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces charges related to an international car theft ring during a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2026, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser present.

"They don't need keys, and they don't need hot wiring," Pirro said. "No smashed windows, no drama.... In under a minute, the car's brain is rewritten. The car is gone in 60 seconds."

Alleged Modus Operandi

According to the indictment, after stealing vehicles the suspects disabled tracking technology such as GPS and Bluetooth to evade detection. They allegedly "cooled off" cars at locations where license plates were swapped — investigators point to at least one instance at a parking garage at a Maryland Marriott — then moved vehicles to transport carriers at the ports of Savannah and Baltimore.

To conceal shipments, the ring allegedly loaded stolen cars into containers mislabeled as furniture before exporting them, primarily to African markets where demand and resale profits for certain vehicles are high.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announces charges related to an international car theft ring during a press conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2026, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser present.

"This isn't joyriding," Pirro added. "These are high‑end vehicles that are then loaded on transport carriers ... shipped across the ocean to Africa, where demand is sky high and profits are enormous."

Scope, Charges and Precautions

The indictment lists more than 20 stolen vehicles with a combined value approaching $1 million, but investigators believe the scheme could be linked to over 100 thefts in Washington, D.C., and more than 30 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for potential losses near $4 million. Five men have been charged so far: Jacob Hernandez, David Coby, Dustin Wetzel, Chance Clark and James Young. They face federal counts including conspiracy, possession and transport of stolen vehicles and related offenses.

Law enforcement warned the public that modern car‑theft rings increasingly rely on electronic tools to bypass conventional protections. Metropolitan Police Department interim police chief Jeffery Carrol recommended practical countermeasures: keep key fobs in a Faraday bag to block signals and consider physical deterrents such as steering‑wheel locks.

"I know a lot of people will think those things are outdated, but they're not," Carrol said. "They're good devices that prevent vehicles from still being driven" even if someone uses an Autel device to access the car.

The investigation is ongoing as federal and local authorities seek additional suspects and work to recover stolen property.