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12 from Massachusetts charged in connection with high-end car theft ring
Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the investigation into the ring was called "Operation Hellcat."
Authorities arrested and arraigned 12 people suspected of participating in a luxury car theft enterprise across southern Massachusetts, Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office said in a statement.
The year-long investigation, dubbed “Operation Hellcat,” alleges that the accused individuals participated in high end car thefts that totaled more than $2.6 million and included 63 different vehicles stolen from dealerships, Campbell’s office said.
During the Tuesday morning takedown, Campbell’s office said law enforcement seized guns, ammunition, and large-capacity magazines. In addition, the statement said authorities found “various threads of evidence” that connected the suspects to the alleged crimes, including key fobs, key programming devices, and clothing.
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The suspects range from 18 to 58 years old. Campbell’s office named them as James Senat, 19, Andrick Semedo, 20, Paulo Semedo, 58, Kevin DaGraca, 18, Jason Brito, 20, Nelshon Pires, 19, Jalen Clarke-Cox, 19, Derek Gaillot, 18, Claudio Medina, 20, Jaydin Rodrigues, 20, Andy Gomes, 23, and Micaiah Taylor, 21. Separate legal representation for each suspect did not immediately return a comment on their clients.
Campbell’s office said one other suspect has not yet been arrested.
Campbell’s office said police “established a pattern of conduct” for the 12 suspects in June 2023 that continued to December 2024. Investigators said they believe the suspects worked in groups of two to 10 to coordinate the thefts at dealerships in Massachusetts and surrounding areas.
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Court records show the suspects targeted dealerships in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
“The group allegedly used Autel programming devices that allow users to take a blank key fob and create a fully functioning key for the vehicle,” Campbell’s office said. “After breaking into the vehicles, the suspects connected the Autel device into the vehicle, allowing them to create a new key fob within minutes.”
In addition, Campbell’s office accused the suspects of allegedly ordering gun parts online, including machinery that can convert a semi-automatic Glock style firearm into a fully automatic machine gun.
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