Car Theft Ring Suspects Appear in Court

by Nick Delgado

Guam – Four men involved in an alleged car theft ring in Dededo are being held behind bars on $1,000 cash bail. Joseph Avena, Jermaine White, Joseph Quintanilla and Joaquin Quintanilla were charged with 2 counts of theft by receiving as a 2nd degree felony.

As we reported, police learned of the operations after locating a reported stolen vehicle that had been altered.  It was earlier last week GPD arrested the driver Justin Naputi who stated he bought the
truck for $100.  Authorities Friday morning conducted a search warrant on the Chamorro land trust property where the men were apparently squatting for years. The four men arrested during the police raid appeared in magistrate's court this afternoon.

According to court documents, police found a receipt in the truck Naputi was driving which belonged to another man who reported his vehicle stolen in May. The vehicle also had VIN plates and the
certificate of ownership belonging to a separate victim. Court documents add White told police Naputi had been driving the altered pickup truck for the past 2 months and did not suspect it was stolen.
He also stated they helped Naputi push a second truck that they believed was abandoned to his residence known as the junkyard. White said it was only after Naputi later bragged he stole the truck that they covered it to keep it hidden.

Additionally, Joaquin told authorities that Naputi would ask the group if they ever needed car parts that they could help themselves at his hiding spot in the junkyard.  Court documents state, Avena did sideline work as a mechanic on the property removing parts from various vehicles. When police questioned why the vehicles had VIN plates removed, he responded they had popped off.

Aside from the two stolen pickup trucks located, police also found a Nissan Sentra, three Nissan pickup trucks and a Honda Civic on the property.

The group faces a potential 10 years behind bars.