Four Indicted for Roles in New Jersey Home Invasion, Auto Theft Ring

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) reported that four men were charged in a 61-count indictment for their respective roles in an auto theft and home invasion ring.

The charges include home invasion burglary, conspiracy, auto theft, receiving stolen motor vehicles, burglary, credit card theft, and other crimes.

Those indicted by a grand jury were New Jersey residents Tyree Payton of Clementon; Israel Ortiz of Sewell; and Jeremiah Lugo of Clementon, along with Sakie Smith of Philadelphia.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

In addition to stealing high-end luxury vehicles, the defendants are charged with stealing credit cards, motorcycles, a scooter, and a trailer, according to DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton.

Platkin said the charges were brought using recently enacted laws to charge criminals who invade homes to steal key fobs so that they can steal cars.

“These defendants are charged with embarking on a brazen spree of car thefts, burglaries, and other crimes,” said Platkin. “But this case is about more than car thefts – it is about robbing people of their sense of security and safety.”

The charges are in connection with thefts in several municipalities in Burlington County and surrounding jurisdictions. In some cases, the defendants allegedly targeted high-end vehicles. From March 15, 2025 to May 23, 2025, a total of 11 vehicles were stolen from residences, with defendants also allegedly attempting to steal four additional motor vehicles, according to prosecutors.

Among the alleged incidents cited in the indictment are:

• On April 27, 2025, a 2024 BMW X4 was stolen from the driveway of a home in Moorestown. During the course of this theft, the homeowner came outside and the assailants fled. They allegedly returned moments later and stole the BMW from the garage. When they returned, one of the assailants was armed with what appeared to be a firearm. Payton, Ortiz, and Smith are charged with home invasion, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle in this incident.
• On April 23, 2025, a white 2019 Alfa Romeo was stolen from a home in Medford. Credit cards from the vehicle were used hours later in Cherry Hill.
• On April 20, 2025, a 2019 Mercedes Benz S63 was stolen from Ventnor City. The vehicle was unlocked, and the keys were left inside the vehicle when the victim parked the vehicle around 11:00 a.m. The vehicle was later recovered around the Philadelphia International Airport.

Topics Auto Fraud New Jersey Numbers