TRENTON - Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice announced today that four men were charged in a 61-count indictment for their roles in an auto theft and home invasion ring. One of the vehicles was stolen out of Ventnor.
Tyree Payton, 25, of Clementon; Israel Ortiz, 23, of Sewell; Sakie Smith, 30, of Philadelphia; and Jeremiah Lugo, 19, of Clementon were indicted by a state grand jury Oct. 22, on charges including home invasion burglary, conspiracy, auto theft, receiving stolen motor vehicles, burglary, credit card theft and other crimes.
“These defendants are charged with embarking on a brazen spree of car thefts, burglaries, and other crimes,” Platkin said. “But this case is about more than car thefts – it is about robbing people of their sense of security and safety. We are using recently enacted laws to charge criminals who invade homes to steal key fobs so that they can steal cars. Breaking into people’s homes to steal vehicles is not just a property crime. It’s a dangerous escalation and a violation of the security every resident deserves.”
“In addition to stealing high-end luxury vehicles, these defendants are charged with stealing credit cards, motorcycles, a scooter, a trailer – literally anything they could get their hands on,” DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton said. “The charges we are announcing today are serious, and these defendants will be held accountable for their alleged crimes.”
The defendants are charged in connection with a spate of motor vehicle thefts and attempted thefts in several municipalities in Burlington County and surrounding jurisdictions. In some cases, the defendants allegedly targeted high-end vehicles – typically when they were left unlocked, and, at times, with the keys left in the vehicle – that were parked in driveways.
From March 15 to May 23, a total of 11 vehicles were stolen from residences, with defendants also attempting to steal four additional motor vehicles. Among the incidents charged are:
• On April 20, a 2019 Mercedes Benz S63 was stolen from Ventnor City, New Jersey. The vehicle was unlocked, and the keys were left inside the vehicle when the victim parked the vehicle around 11 a.m. When the victim came outside around 11 p.m., the vehicle was gone. The vehicle was later recovered by Philadelphia Police around the Philadelphia International Airport. Ortiz, Payton and Lugo are charged in the indictment with theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, and three counts each of theft of a credit card and fraudulent use of a credit card based on allegations of fraudulent purchases using the owner of the car’s credit cards.
• On April 23, a white 2019 Alfa Romeo was stolen from a home in Medford. Credit cards from the vehicle were used hours later in Cherry Hill. The indictment charges Payton and Ortiz for the theft and Payton, Ortiz and Smith for the fraudulent use of a credit card.
• On April 27, a 2024 BMW X4 was stolen from the driveway of a home in Moorestown. During the course of this theft, the homeowner came outside and the assailants fled. They allegedly returned moments later and stole the BMW from the garage. When they returned, one of the assailants, believed to be Payton, was armed with what appeared to be a firearm. Payton, Ortiz, and Smith are charged with home invasion, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle in this incident.
The charges resulted from an investigation by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office with special help from the Medford, Moorestown and Mount Laurel police departments. The investigation was also assisted by the Cinnaminson, Berlin, Delanco, Delran, Berlin, Gloucester Township, Pine Hill, Clementon, Harrison, Mantua, Ventnor City, Haddon Township and Washington Township Police Departments.
The prosecution is being handled by Special Deputy Attorney General/Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa O’Mara and Deputy Attorney General Elizabeth Newton.
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000.; second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000; third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000; and fourth-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
