A Detroit man has been handed down a sentence ranging from 15 months to 20 years for his central role in an auto theft operation that plagued Southeast Michigan, as detailed in an announcement from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Davonta Jones, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, related to the theft of hundreds of vehicles sold significantly under value on the black market.
The theft ring, operating across more than 40 jurisdictions, targeted locations ranging from new vehicle storage lots to private residences. Jones is one of several individuals sentenced in connection with the wide-reaching criminal enterprise. The investigation began with the Troy Police Department in August 2023 and was later supported by the FORCE Team, which has played a key role since early 2024 in dismantling the operation across Oakland, Washtenaw, Macomb, Wayne, Eaton, and Kent counties.
Local law enforcement agencies, including those from Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, and several other municipalities, played a key role in the investigation. Their support strengthened the efforts initially launched by the Troy Police Department and the FORCE Team, ultimately leading to multiple convictions. "The success of this investigation is a direct result of the FORCE Team’s collaboration with the Troy Police Department and police agencies across Southeast Michigan," said Nessel, in a statement provided by the Michigan Attorney General's office.
Formed in January 2023, the FORCE Team, which stands for Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement, is a Michigan-based initiative created to address the rise in organized retail crime. The team includes two assistant attorneys general, special agents from the Department of Attorney General, and Michigan State Police detectives. It works in partnership with major retailers and agencies such as the FBI’s Detroit Fraud and Financial Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. These collaborations have expanded the campaign against organized crime, targeting not only auto theft but also various aspects of retail-related criminal activity.
Other individuals sentenced in connection with the criminal network include Davion Tucker, who received 30 months to 20 years in prison; Donovan Tucker, sentenced to 8 months in jail followed by probation; and Timothy Bell, who received 34 months to 20 years in prison.
