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Press Release

Rhode Island Man Admits Stealing and Selling Luxury Car Tires and Rims

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL FARIAS, 56, of Providence, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to an offense related to his role in a scheme to steal tires and rims from new vehicles at car dealerships in northeastern states and then sell the stolen items to individuals across the country.

According to court documents and statement made in court, between May 2015 and August 2018, Farias and others stole tires and rims from numerous luxury vehicles at car dealerships in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Maine.  The co-conspirators then sold the stolen goods to others around the U.S.

In pleading guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, Farias specifically admitted that, on August 1, 2016, he and others stole the rims and tires from four 2016 Chevrolet Suburbans at a car dealership located in Darien, Connecticut.

Farias was arrested on November 17, 2020.

Farias faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.  He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.

This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Shelton, Milford, Waterbury, Stonington, Vernon, Darien, Westchester County (N.Y.), Bedford (N.Y.) and Portland (Maine) Police Departments, and the York County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Vizcarrondo.

Updated November 10, 2021