(CBS DETROIT) – A Farmington Hills man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to plotting to steal dozens of Audis and Volkswagens from a lot on the site of the former Pontiac Silverdome.
Romane Porter, 47, was found guilty in April of conspiracy to transport stolen vehicles and transportation of stolen vehicles. Porter and his co-defendant, Daniel Onorati, were accused of conspiring to steal 61 recalled Audi and Volkswagen vehicles from the former Silverdome site over a six-month period in 2017.
“This defendant orchestrated a large-scale conspiracy to brazenly steal recalled vehicles and sell them across state lines,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement. “This sentence reflects the seriousness with which we address fraud, and the work done to achieve the outcome in this case further demonstrates the strong cooperation and coordination between our local and federal law enforcement partners.”
In addition to the eight-year prison sentence, Porter must pay $683,080 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
“Romane Porter’s sentencing is a stark reminder that those who conspire to commit fraud and theft will receive the highest penalties under the law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Michigan Office. “The collaborative investigative work of the FBI’s Detroit Fraud & Financial Crimes Task Force, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit, and the diligent prosecution of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan disrupted an elaborate theft scheme orchestrated by this bad actor. The FBI’s Michigan Office will continue to investigate and arrest individuals who engage in criminal acts.”
