The killing of Philadelphia police officer Richard Mendez at a Philadelphia International Airport parking garage two years ago was connected to an auto theft ring that crossed state lines, New Jersey officials say.
And now, 13 people have been indicted in connection with that theft ring — including the three men charged in Mendez’s 2023 murder. The group members are facing charges of racketeering, weapons offenses, promoting organized street crime, theft and conspiracy.
Law enforcement officials allege the group stole over 40 cars from 2021 to 2024, targeting homes, car dealerships and parking garages. The break-ins and thefts happened in the same manner: the back window would be broken with screwdrivers, wrenches or bolt cutters, and a key reprogrammer would be used to drive the vehicle back to Camden County, before it was arranged for sale via social media or text messages.
“These individuals were armed, dangerous and willing to commit violence to complete their thefts,” said Theresa Hilton, director of the Division of Criminal Justice with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
The group targeted higher value cars like Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Chargers, Durangos and Ram trucks. More than 20 thefts occurred in Pennsylvania, but vehicles were also stolen from New Jersey, New York and Delaware, officials said.
Different members of the group were assigned different roles, from crews that stole the cars to people who would falsify documents like New Jersey temporary registrations that would get the cars ready for sale.
“These stolen vehicles were trafficked throughout the region, generating substantial illegal profits for the organization, which operated very much like a business,” said Michael Flory with New Jersey State Police.
Law enforcement officials said the total value of the cars these thieves stole was more than $1 million.
“Cars were sold online, and they even went so far as creating fraudulent New Jersey temporary registrations to more easily sell the vehicles that they stole,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin.
The charges were announced in a news conference on Friday by Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay, Attorney General Platkin and other law enforcement officials.
Richard Mendez killed Oct. 12, 2023
Officer Mendez, 50, was arriving at his shift at PHL with his partner, Officer Raul Ortiz, on Oct. 12, 2023, when they heard glass breaking from inside a parking garage.
The officers went to investigate and stumbled upon a group of four people breaking into a vehicle, which they tried to disrupt. During the encounter, Mendez was shot multiple times and Ortiz was shot in the arm. One of the suspects was also shot.
Mendez, a 22-year veteran of the department and a married father, did not survive his injuries. Police said one man involved in the incident, 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera Duran, was dropped off at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with gunshot wounds and later died.
Ortiz recovered from his injuries. Law enforcement, including the U.S. Marshals, helped apprehend three people in connection with the homicide: 20-year-old Yobranny Martinez-Fernandez, 22-year-old Alexander Batista-Polanco and 22-year-old Hendrick Pena-Fernandez.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Mendez’s daughter gave him a wristband with his badge number on it after he told them about the arrests.
“We shared with her that this indictment was coming and they were excited… won’t say excited, but just acknowledging. I would say this work matters,” he said.
Court records show the trio is set to go to trial in November 2025.
The killing of Mendez drew attention to security at PHL’s garages. The garage where Mendez was killed did not have security cameras, and more than 500 days after his death, that had not changed, CBS News Philadelphia previously reported.
Who was charged in the New Jersey car theft ring?
Authorities allege brothers Alex Vargas, 27, and Alexi Vargas, 24, of Camden, were in charge of the operation, and that Alex Vargas would use the key reprogrammer for the theft. The brothers were also involved in selling the stolen cars once the falsified paperwork was complete.
Martinez-Fernandez, Batista-Polanco and Pena-Fernandez were described as lower-level members who worked on theft crews.
These are the eight other people also indicted, and what officials say were their roles in the theft ring:
- Albert Santana-Fernandez, 27, theft crew, manager of lower-level members
- Franklyn Rodriguez-Santana, 26, theft crew
- Lewys Santana-Pichardo, 25, theft crew and creating fake Vehicle Identification Numbers
- Randy Garcia-Liriano, 22, theft crew and selling the stolen vehicles
- Nelfi Fortuna-Fernandez, 25, theft crew
- Jimmy Marte-Toledo, 25, selling the stolen vehicles. He also allegedly accused a family member’s business of creating fake New Jersey temporary registrations.
- Steven Fernandez-Ulloa, 20 – not specified
- Jeitoni Suarez-Cuevas, 23. theft crew
Bethel thanked investigators for their work on the case and for helping the department after Mendez was murdered.
He acknowledged that the case was not resolved in Pennsylvania, as Martinez-Fernandez, Batista-Polanco and Pena-Fernandez still have to go to trial in November.
“We still have a journey to go, but the fact that this group of individuals in this room would put this sheer effort…we’re appreciative of the support and how you value our men and women,” Bethel said.
