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Feb. 13, 2009

WICHITA MAN WHO LED CAR THEFT RING SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

WICHITA, KAN. – Kapelle Simpson-El, 34, Wichita, has been sentenced to72 months in federal prison for being a leader of a car theft ring, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker and Wichita Police Chief Norman Williams announced today. In addition, Simpson-el was ordered to pay $432,930 restitution.

Simpson was tried in federal court in Wichita in October and found guilty on 25 counts including receiving stolen motor vehicles, tampering with vehicle identification numbers, transporting stolen vehicles across state lines, selling stolen vehicles, and advertising stolen vehicles for sale on e-Bay.

“This is a great example of local law enforcement working with federal partners to curb crime – in this case auto thefts,” said Tom Stolz, Deputy Chief of the Wichita Police Department. “A theft ring of this magnitude can drive up costs for all consumers regarding vehicle prices and insurance rates.”

“This was one of the biggest and most complex auto theft investigations ever conducted by the Wichita Police Department,” said Lt. Wanda Parker-Givens, who leads the department’s auto theft section. “In all, there were more than 15 people identified as victims in this case.”

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that beginning as early as 2004 and continuing into 2007, Simpson-El and others stole vehicles from car lots in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Among the car lots from which the vehicles were stolen were Mike Denney Chevrolet in Guthrie, Okla., Pemberton Chevrolet in Ponca City, Okla., Broome Oldsmobile in Independence, Mo., Doug Reh Chevrolet in Pratt, Kan., and Superior Buick Cadillac in Kansas City, Mo.

Evidence showed that Simpson-El was involved in the thefts of 11 vehicles of various models including Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac XLR, Cadillac SRX, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac STS, and Chevrolet Colorado.

The stolen cars were brought to a chop shop in Wichita. Simpson-El and others removed vehicle identification numbers from the stolen vehicles and replaced them with vehicle identification numbers from salvaged vehicles in an effort to conceal the fact they were stolen. Some of the vehicles were sold. Others were kept for personal use.

Co-defendants in the case include:
– James H. Gonzalez, 27, Valley Center, Kan., who was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $120,486 restitution.
– Jason Benton, 31, Wichita, who was sentenced to one year probation.
– Robert McHenry, Sr., 45, Wichita, who was sentenced to 24 months and ordered to pay $258,600 in restitution.
– Donald Tisdale, who was sentenced to 6 months and ordered to pay $48,065 in restitution.

Parker commended the Wichita Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Curzydlo for their work on the case.