SBI Vows to Continue Hunt After $630K Truck-Theft Ring That Rented Stolen Semis Is Busted

Two men in North Carolina are accused of running an organized scheme that converted stolen commercial trucks into a rental operation, moving more than $630,000 in vehicles before investigators dismantled the ring. Authorities say the most troubling detail: the suspects allegedly rented altered rigs to businesses and individuals who had no reason to suspect the vehicles were stolen.

How the Scheme Worked

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) says the case unraveled after search warrants were executed at properties in Hope Mills and Hoke County following a multi-agency probe. Agents recovered what looked like the inventory of a small fleet yard: two motor vehicles, six semi-trucks and three trailers — all reported stolen from locations across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Investigators allege the suspects used a deliberate process to conceal thefts: stealing rigs, altering vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and swapping license plates to make the trucks appear legitimate. Once disguised, authorities say the trucks were offered for rent, exposing unwitting renters to potential legal and financial consequences.

Who Was Charged

Two men now face felony counts. Andre David Horace Jumpp, of Hope Mills, is charged with two counts of felony breaking and entering and two counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle. Prince Leon Raymond Betts, of Raeford, faces additional charges including two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The firearm allegations elevate the case beyond property crimes.

Coordinated Investigation and Wider Pattern

The probe began with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and expanded to involve the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the Hope Mills Police Department and the Hoke County Sheriff's Office. Insurer involvement highlights how vehicle thefts can ripple into higher claims and premiums for policyholders.

Authorities warn that the recovered $630,000 reflects only the value of vehicles found so far; investigators believe dozens more units connected to the scheme remain missing. The SBI has urged anyone who may have rented a vehicle from the suspects to contact them at 919-662-4500.

UPDATE (June 11, 2026)

The charges against Jumpp and Betts remain as filed, with no additional arrests or court dates reported at this update. SBI Director Chip Hawley said agents will continue to follow leads to identify more suspects, recover stolen property and hold those responsible accountable. Hawley emphasized that coordinated local, state and federal partnerships are critical to disrupting organized commercial-vehicle theft.

The North Carolina bust also mirrors recent actions elsewhere: in early June the California Highway Patrol's Modesto office recovered stolen refrigeration units, big-rig trailers and firearms and arrested two Merced County men, while Florida authorities have pursued investigations involving fraudulent VINs and trailer thefts. Investigators say the common tactic is the same: steal heavy rigs, alter VINs and plates, then funnel them back into the market where unsuspecting buyers and renters are harmed.

For now the two arrests close one chapter, but with dozens of vehicles still missing and the SBI vowing to pursue every lead, the search for the rest of the fleet continues.

Sources: North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (announced June 4, 2026); Transport Topics, "Vehicle Theft Crackdowns Lead to Arrests in Multiple States," June 10, 2026; California Highway Patrol, Modesto.