Two Charlotte men were sentenced on Mar. 25 for their roles in a large-scale stolen vehicle conspiracy that involved millions of dollars in high-end vehicles and the trafficking of significant amounts of marijuana, according to U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina.
The sentencing highlights law enforcement efforts to dismantle organized criminal networks operating across state lines, involving both property crimes and narcotics offenses.
Andre Lamar Sumner, age 43, received a sentence of 70 months in prison with two years of supervised release. Erren Woodson, age 40, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Both had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of marijuana.
“Sumner and Woodson were criminals from head to toe – driving around in expensive stolen vehicles, engaging in fraud, and dealing drugs with piles of guns and ammunition,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Thanks to the work of law enforcement, all of this crime is over, and Sumner and Woodson will be in federal prison.”
“These defendants boldly participated in this luxury car theft ring across at least 10 states and took extra steps to conceal their crimes. Despite their efforts, they could not deter the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the FBI and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department who meticulously traced and tracked their crime spree and brought them to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis.
According to court documents cited by prosecutors during sentencing proceedings, Sumner operated as a fence—selling high-end stolen vehicles such as BMWs, Land Rovers, Porsches, Mercedes-Benzes, Rolls-Royces as well as trucks from Chevrolet or Ford—at prices below market value after altering VINs for fraudulent registration purposes. Investigators found evidence tying him directly or through personal knowledge to at least 31 stolen vehicles worth more than $2 million.
Woodson was also described as an armed drug trafficker who knowingly purchased or received multiple stolen vehicles from Sumner while communicating regularly about available inventory. Law enforcement recovered several altered-identity cars linked directly or indirectly back to Woodson’s activities.
Both men funded portions of these illegal purchases through drug sales; searches at each residence turned up large amounts of packaged marijuana (71 pounds at Sumner’s home; approximately 86 pounds at Woodson’s), psilocybin mushrooms (two pounds at Sumner’s; over seven pounds at Woodson’s), cash ($118k seized from Sumner; $586k from Woodson), firearms—including rifles—and equipment associated with narcotics distribution.
Chief Estella D. Patterson praised investigative partnerships: “Today’s sentencings continue to underscore the power of strong partnerships… This case is a clear example how coordinated work between local and federal agencies disrupts organized criminal networks.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan are handling prosecution duties moving forward.
