Three men accused of treating Dodge Ram trucks like a grab-and-go parts aisle are now heading to Macomb County Circuit Court, after a St. Clair Shores judge found probable cause that they took part in a multi-county theft ring targeting expensive infotainment systems. Prosecutors say the alleged crew focused on Ram trucks across Metro Detroit. The defendants, Brandon Redd, 26, Alante Smith, 27, and Bernard Woodward, 23, are expected back in circuit court later this month.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the preliminary examination began March 16 and wrapped up March 18 in 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores, where Judge Joseph Craigen Oster sent the case upstairs to circuit court. Redd, 26, of Roseville, along with Smith, 27, of Detroit, and Woodward, 23, of Detroit, are scheduled for arraignment at Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens on March 30 at 1:30 p.m. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido credited investigators and said the probe helped “dismantle” a criminal enterprise that zeroed in on vehicle infotainment systems.
Prosecutors tie suspects to dozens of thefts
Prosecutors claim the trio is linked to more than 30 thefts of Dodge Ram infotainment centers, along with related auto-theft crimes since early 2025, stretching across Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, according to ClickOnDetroit. Local reporting last summer detailed a wider surge of similar break-ins that helped spur task-force investigations; dozens of cases were described, and investigators said some victims were hit more than once. Replacing a stolen screen can run into the thousands and often means waiting on backordered parts, leaving owners stuck while their dashboards sit half-gutted.
Task forces credited with the arrests
The Macomb Auto Theft Squad, St. Clair Shores Police Department, Eastpointe Police Department and the Oakland County Auto Theft Taskforce are all being credited with helping identify and arrest the suspects, according to local coverage. FOX 2 Detroit reported that surveillance operations and close coordination between agencies were key to the investigation. The three men now face the criminal-enterprise charge in circuit court, where prosecutors will have to prove the pattern of racketeering laid out in the complaint.
What the charge means
Under Michigan law, “conducting a criminal enterprise” covers taking part in the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. It is a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, along with fines and possible forfeiture of any proceeds, according to the Michigan Compiled Laws. The statute and penalties are detailed by the Michigan Legislature. As in every criminal case, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
