Car, Identity Theft Pleas In Westchester

MAMARONECK, NY — Two men from the Bronx pleaded guilty to car theft and ID theft. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. said Jankely Hidalgo, 29, and Jonathan Sevilla, 34, both of the Bronx, admitted their guilt in a complex identity fraud scheme that allowed them to fraudulently "purchase" and take possession of vehicles, mostly high-end, at car dealerships throughout Westchester by using the personal identifying information and credit of their victims.

The men pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree identity theft, a felony, for the theft of a Lexus automobile from Ray Catena Lexus of Larchmont in the Town of Mamaroneck.

Additionally, Sevilla pleaded guilty to a second count of first-degree identity for an attempted theft from Rivera Toyota of Mount Kisco Jan. 24.

Both men admitted to additional thefts of vehicles at other locations in Westchester for which they will pay restitution.

They will be sentenced Nov. 21 and face up to six years in state prison. The men will also have judgments against them in the amounts owed to the victimized dealerships.

Hidalgo and Sevilla took part in a fraudulent scheme to steal vehicles from Westchester dealerships.

Hidalgo supplied Sevilla with forged driver's licenses and victims' personal identifying information, such as Social Security numbers, to present himself as a legitimate buyer who wanted financing for expensive vehicles.

Sevilla went to the dealerships to "purchase" these vehicles.

On Oct. 20, 2017, Hidalgo drove Sevilla to the Ray Catena Lexus of Larchmont dealership, where he made a deal to finance a vehicle using a victim's ID. He drove the vehicle off the lot without paying for it.

Prosecutors said the ring successfully stole five cars from different county dealerships from Oct. 2017 to Feb. 2018.

SEE ALSO:

• Luxury Cars, Stolen Credit: $1M Ring Busted
• Arrest Of Woman In Ring Of Luxury Car Thieves: DA

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