PROVIDENCE – Four young men from Rhode Island have been named in an indictment that accuses them of stealing about 120 high-end vehicles, worth about $5 million, from 12 dealerships in other states last year.

The four conspirators, including two Providence men, a Cranston man and a North Providence man, targeted auto and motorcycle dealerships across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said in a news release.

The men took Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Land Rover and other vehicles in a conspiracy that was investigated by the FBI with help from numerous local police departments, federal prosecutors say.

Law enforcement has recovered 41 stolen vehicles and 11 dirt bikes, securing most of the vehicles in either Rhode Island or Massachusetts, they say.

A $96,000 Jeep

A surveillance video obtained by Providence police shows two men, who look like two of the conspirators, putting a cover over a vehicle valued at $96,000, prosecutors say.

The scene, which involved a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, unfolded in a Providence driveway last year, prosecutors say.

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The Jeep and three other vehicles, they say, had been taken from a dealership in Hempstead, New Hampshire, two days before.

Another SUV stolen by the group, a Range Rover, was found in a shipping container in Elizabeth, New Jersey, prosecutors say. The container was bound for Africa.

Stolen motorcycles in a North Providence garage

In another case, the conspirators stole 19 premium Husqvarna motorcycles from a dealership in Phillipston, Massachusetts, according to prosecutors. The motorcycles were found in the garage of a conspirator who lives in North Providence, the release said.

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The same 28-year-old defendant brokered stolen vehicles to a network of associates, including some people who lived in Rhode Island, prosecutors say.

Seven Rhode Island police agencies provided substantial assistance to the FBI, according to the release.

Six Massachusetts police organizations as well as criminal investigators from the Internal Revenue Service and the National Insurance Crime Bureau also assisted in the investigation, prosecutors say.

Rhode Island (6-1-2, 1-1-0 A-10)
Starters: DiLoreto (GK), Clarke-Tosczak, Namusse, Sanchis, Oystese, Walker, Taylor, Lykkegaard, Mwamba, Etxegarai
Substitutes: Bermingham, Harris, Schwab, Morrill, Yurkovic

St. Bonaventure (3-5-2, 0-1-1 A-10)
Starters: Pucci (GK), Drath, Ehrich, Ferretti, Addo, Brito, Akuazaoku, Tall, Javitt, Dawson, Shillington 
Substitutes: Mercer, Finelli, Helle, Dreasky, Aroza

Scoring Summary
9:07 – URI – Etxegarai (Namusse)
11:12 – SBU – Akuazaoku (Shillington)
13:03 – URI – (OWN GOAL)
50:44 – URI – Etxegarai (Bermingham)
55:18 – SBU – Tall (Shillington)
72:22 – SBU – Akuazaoku (unassisted)
86:25 – URI – Sanchis (Yurkovic)

How it Happened
Rhode Island had its most explosive game of the season, beating St. Bonaventure 4-3 in the Atlantic 10 home opener Saturday night.

The game started with three goals in three minutes. Junior forward Íñigo Etxegarai scored his first of two goals on the night at the nine minute mark. A free kick by Keegan Walker was touched by Isnaba Namussé who had a pass to Etxegarai at the top of the box. The San Sebastian, Spain native blasted a shot past Bonnies keeper Nicolas Pucci for his first goal of the season.

Two minutes later the visitors broke through to knot the score at 1-1. Umechi Akuazaoku had a shot from the top of the box that found the back of the net. The score didn’t stay tied for long as an own goal gave the Rams a 2-1 lead going into the break. 

The scoring continued in the second half, as Etxegarai scored again, this time off a quick touch from Brandon Bermingham at the 50th minute. The Bonnies kept fighting, striking in the 55th minute when Callum Shillington set up a pass to Mo Tall in the corner of the box. The shot by Tall soared past Rhody keeper Nate DiLoreto’s reach for his first goal of the season. 

St. Bonaventure scored its third goal of the night to tie it at 3-3 when Akuazaoku headed in a rebound off an initial shot by Kenzo Brito that hit the top post. 

The game looked to finish in a draw until Joan Sanchis scored a game-winner with less than four minutes remaining in the game. Nate Yurkovic had a cross from the corner and Sanchis tipped it in off his head for his third goal of the year and Rhody held on to win.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island had six different players tally points in the win. 
• Íñigo Etxegarai scored his first two goals of the season. 
• Joan Sanchis netted his team-high third goal on the year. 
• Keeper Nate DiLoreto made five saves in 90:00 between the posts.
• After keeping the shots even in the first half 5-5, the Rams outshot the visiting Bonnies 13-9 in the second.
• Isnaba Namussé and Brandon Bermingham recorded their first assists of the season. 
• Five players played for all 90 minutes of the game. 
• Saturday’s four goals were the most scored in a game by the Rams since beating UMaine Fort Kent 8-1 12 matches ago on Oct. 10, 2023. 

Up Next
The Rams have a home non-conference matchup against in-state Bryant Tuesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the URI Soccer Complex. 

When it comes to Rhode Island restaurants and dining, everyone has an opinion.

But here’s the thing: Everyone is right. Rhode Island is a foodie’s paradise. And it’s not just the fancy cuisine – sure, we have that, and some of the most innovative chefs in the world – Rhode Island’s got the all-time faves and the traditions, like pizza strips, frozen lemonade and stuffies.

Like I said, we’ve got you covered when it comes to new restaurants to try. We even offer recipes now and then so you can make some of your restaurant favorites at home. Dealing with dietary restrictions, like going gluten-free? We’ve got you covered there, too.

For some fun this fall, we had all of The Journal’s writing staff pitch in for the Ultimate Rhode Island Dining Guide. And why not – food touches so many aspects of our lives, just as it touches so many of their beats.

For instance, our NENPA Journalist of the Year, courts reporter Katie Mulvaney, takes us on a quest to find one of her favorite sandwiches, the muffuletta. Political reporter Kathy Gregg dove into some finance records to see where local lawmakers were eating, and who paid the bill. Reporter Paul Edward Parker has a teenage son, so who better to send to a ghost kitchen? And reporter Patrick Anderson, always a good one to bring historical perspective to stories, takes a look at the old-fashioned foods that make up “Swamp Yankee” cuisine.

See? Something for everyone. Take a look!