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Seven Detroit men charged in alleged statewide auto theft ring

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Seven Detroit men charged in alleged statewide auto theft ring


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Seven men from Detroit are facing several charges in connection with an alleged statewide auto theft ring, according to police.

Authorities uncovered the alleged theft ring after investigating an incident at a dealership in Pinckney, Michigan, last year. 

In March 2024, police responded to a “suspicious situation” at the Pinckney Chrysler Dealership. When officers arrived, three vehicles took off at high speed. Officers stopped one of the vehicles, and Michigan State Police stopped another. A third driver trying to help one of the suspects was also caught.

A year-long investigation revealed the statewide theft ring, which led to the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office’s issuance of charges against seven people.

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The following men were charged:

Desean Stanley, 20. Received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Using a Computer to Commit Crimes
  • Conspiracy to Commit B&E with Intent
  • Breaking and entering with Intent
  • Conspiracy to Commit Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile
  • Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (five counts)
  • Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in a Building
  • Larceny in a Building
  • Operating a Chop Shop
  • Flee & Elude
  • Driving With a Suspended License
  • Reckless Driving

Detroit man, 22.

Conspiracy to Commit B&E

  • Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (five counts)
  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Flee & Elude
  • Malicious Destruction of Property over $50,000

Kristopher Hayes, 24. Received a $500,000 cash/surety bond.

  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Using a Computer to Commit Crimes (20 Counts)
  • Conspiracy to Commit Breaking and Entering with Intent
  • Breaking and entering with intent
  • Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Driving with an Automobile
  • Unlawfully Driving with an Automobile (5 Counts)
  • Malicious Destruction of Property over $50K
  • Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in a Building
  • Larceny in a Building
  • Habitual second offender
  • Reckless Driving
  • Fleeing and Eluding

Detroit man, 25.

  • Conspiracy to Commit B&E
  • B&E
  • Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (five Counts)
  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Fleeing and Eluding
  • Malicious Destruction of Property over $50K

Dakarai Williams, 24. Received a $500,000 cash/surety bond

  • Conspiracy to Commit B&E
  • Breaking and Entering
  • Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (five counts)
  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Fleeing and Eluding
  • Malicious Destruction of Property over $50K

Detroit man, 20.

  • Continuing Criminal Enterprise
  • Using a Computer to Commit Crimes
  • Conspiracy to Commit Breaking and Entering  with Intent
  • Breaking and Entering with Intent
  • Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Driving Away of an Automobile
  • Unlawfully Driving Away an Automobile (five counts)
  • Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in a Building
  • Larceny in a Building

Detroit man, 23.

  • Accessory After the Fact to a Felony (two counts)
  • Felony Firearm
  • Possession of Financial Transaction Information and Personal Identifying Information (5 Counts each)
  • Using a Computer to Commit Crimes (five counts)
  • Lying to Police

Police say the seventh suspect could not be connected to a conspiring criminal enterprise in connection with the theft in Pinckney, but other jurisdictions will be able to connect him. That suspect was also charged with five counts of financial crime and is accused of victimizing 50 people from across the country.

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Detroit, MI

Retired Detroit sergeant faces new sexual assault charge involving 14-year-old victim from 2002

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Retired Detroit sergeant faces new sexual assault charge involving 14-year-old victim from 2002



An additional case, this one involving a victim who was then 14 years old, has been added to the sexual assault investigation against a former Detroit Police Department sergeant. 

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the latest charges on Friday against Benjamin Martin Wagner, 68, who now lives in Greenville, N.C. He had retired from the Detroit Police Department in 2017. 

The victim in the additional charges was 14 years old when the assault happened in October 2002 in Detroit, Worthy said. The prosecutor alleges that Wagner approached the victim, pointed a handgun at her, ordered her away from the location and then sexually assaulted her. 

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In this case, he faces charges of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. An arraignment hearing took place Friday in the 36th District Court in Detroit. A probable cause conference is scheduled for April 7.

The woman is now 37 years old. 

“She has lived with what happened to her for 23 years and has now bravely decided that she wants to be a part of holding him accountable,” Worthy said. 

Wagner participated in a court hearing Thursday and was remanded to jail, one week after he was charged with 15 counts of kidnapping and rape in five separate sexual assault cases. All of those incidents happened between 1999 and 2003 in the northwest side of Detroit, with the victims being young women between the ages of 15 and 23. 

The court dates for the earlier list of charges are April 7 for a probable cause hearing and April 14 for a preliminary exam. 

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Wagner joined the Detroit Police Department in 1989 as a police officer and was eventually promoted to sergeant. He retired in 2017 and moved to North Carolina. 



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Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026 — 11 p.m. Update

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Metro Detroit weather forecast, March 26, 2026  — 11 p.m. Update


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Fangirl Culture is Front and Center as Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Presents a Zany Y2K Comedy

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Fangirl Culture is Front and Center as Detroit Mercy Theatre Company Presents a Zany Y2K Comedy


I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire closes Detroit Mercy’s 55th Season

DETROIT — Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) closes the inaugural season of the new Detroit

Mercy Black Box Theatre with I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley, playing April 10-19 on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire is set in 2004 and follows 14-year-old Shelby Hinkley, who is obsessed with Hollywood star Tobey Maguire and creates a play to kidnap and marry him in her basement.

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“This play is as hilarious as it is heartfelt,” said DMTC managing director Sarah Rusk. “Shelby truly believes Tobey Maguire is her destiny, and through her obsession we get a look into the complicated emotions of growing up during the Y2K era.”

“I absolutely love working with young actors,” said director Cassandra Svacha.

Student Actor, Rileyt McDevitt.  Detroit Mercy

Student actor Riley McDevitt, Photo by Alan Devlin

Watching them create and rise to the challenge is thrilling. I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire to college-aged kids is like a period piece; none of them were alive when this story takes place so it’s extra fun to have them dive into this world in an anthropologic way. They aren’t reminiscing or remembering 2004, they have to study that world and build it for themselves.”

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire runs six performances April 10-19 at the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online at www.DetroitMercyArts.com.

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Individual tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

Those looking to buy tickets should note that the play is rated R and contains adult language and

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