United States of America v. Kaheem Archer, Calvin Bent, Christine Ferguson, Lamont Martin, Ajani McChriston, and Chad Reed

New York City, New York, criminal defense lawyers represent the Defendants charged with engaging in a multi-year scheme to steal rental cars worth millions of dollars using stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses. They are charged with conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and aggravated identity theft.

Reported by: Kent Morlan

From at least September 2023 to the present, ARCHER, BENT, FERGUSON, MARTIN, MCCHRISTON, and REED stole rental cars across the Northeastern United States from multiple rental car companies by using stolen credit cards and fraudulent driver’s licenses bearing the defendants’ photographs but victims’ names. For over three years, the defendants executed the charged scheme by reserving and picking up rental cars under stolen identities, charging the rentals to the victims’ credit cards, and then transporting the cars to the Bronx or Manhattan, New York, often on the same day. Multiple defendants carried out these thefts in close succession at the same rental locations. None of the cars were returned, and several were later recovered in connection with violent crimes or found operated by suspects of violent crimes.

ARCHER, 29, of Brooklyn, New York; BENT, 24, of Brooklyn; FERGUSON, 27, of Brooklyn; MARTIN, 26, of Staten Island, New York; MCCHRISTON, 33, of Brooklyn; and REED, 27, of Brooklyn, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.