Stratford Man Sentenced In Car Theft Ring: Feds

STRATFORD, CT — A Stratford man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison in connection with a car theft ring, according to officials.

Christopher Mulkern, also known as “Chucky,” 22, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Leonard C. Boyle announced Monday.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, Connecticut State Police and local police have been investigating multiple car theft rings in Connecticut, and violent crimes that are being committed using stolen vehicles.

“The investigation revealed that Mulkern and others have stolen numerous motor vehicles, and used the stolen vehicles to travel throughout Connecticut and to neighboring states to steal other vehicles and the valuables inside, including credit cards, cellular telephones, and firearms,” officials wrote in a news release. “Mulkern and his associates typically frequented upper middleclass neighborhoods to go ‘car-checking’ or ‘jigging,’ which involves an attempt to open the door of a motor vehicle and, if successful, steal the vehicle and/or valuables inside.

“Once the thieves take the cars, they sell, trade or pawn any items of value found in the cars and sell or ‘rent’ the stolen cars to other criminals.”

On Dec. 1, 2020, Mulkern and Edwin Cordero stole a Porsche Panamera from a home in Westport, according to authorities. Shortly after midnight on Dec. 2, law enforcement in Westerly, Rhode Island, identified the stolen Porsche and tried to stop the car.

“The Porsche drove recklessly, at speeds of at least 86 mph, between Rhode Island and Connecticut, and evaded police who, for safety reasons, were forced to terminate pursuit,” officials wrote.

At approximately 4 a.m. on Dec. 2, officials said Mulkern, Cordero and others used the stolen Porsche to steal a Dodge Challenger from a residence in Milford. Later that night, Stratford police spotted and tried to stop the Porsche, which was being driven by Mulkern.

“During the pursuit, Mulkern rammed a car stopped at a red light at an intersection, drove up on the sidewalk and through the red light, and then struck a second vehicle, causing the second vehicle to flip onto its roof,” officials wrote. “Mulkern drove the damaged Porsche onto I-95 into Bridgeport, where he and Cordero were apprehended as they attempted to enter another stolen Audi A4 that was parked on Gregory Street. A search of the stolen Audi revealed approximately 13 key fobs for other vehicles, and a search of the Porsche revealed five cellphones. In addition, Cordero possessed a key fob for the stolen Dodge Challenger, which was subsequently located parked on Main Street in Bridgeport, and Mulkern possessed two stolen credit cards.”

Mulkern has been detained since his arrest. He pleaded guilty in April to one count of transportation of a stolen vehicle.

Cordero pleaded guilty to the same offense on Sept. 8 and awaits sentencing.

Cordero and Mulkern have also agreed to pay restitution to at least seven owners of vehicles they stole and/or damaged, according to officials.