Approximately 52 cars worth nearly $5 million were stolen by a large organized crime group at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to reporting by the Dallas Morning News.
An investigation has been ongoing since February 2023 and identified as many as 14 suspects based out of Houston, according to a search warrant affidavit. In addition to DFW, the group also stole cars from airports in new Mexico, Nevada and Utah.
The investigation gained momentum on Oct. 8 when three men were arrested after a license plate reader alerted police of a suspect vehicle entering the airport. Police set up a traffic stop for the vehicle and discovered it had an unsecured temporary license plate.
The three occupants were identified as Jose Antonio Perez-Rodriguez, 29; Yanier Pinillo-Toro, 30; and Yoel Hernandez-Frometa, 38. Police searched the vehicle and found a device that can be used to reprogram car key fobs, according to the affidavit. Fourteen key fobs were also found in the vehicle, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Hernandez-Frometa had been present at the same DFW terminals where at least eight vehicles were stolen between July 2023 and October 2024. He was also photographed in more than one of the stolen vehicles, police said.
In July, both Hernandez-Frometa and Pinillo-Toro were arrested in Salt Lake City and faced charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and evading arrest. They also were found in possession of several different sets of car keys and the same key fob reprogramming tool used at DFW Airport, according to the affidavit.
Police in Harris County in August also found Perez-Rodriguez in possession of a car that had its VIN switched, the affidavit said.
All three men were booked into Tarrant County jail and face charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.
