Man Who Led Car Theft Ring Is Sentenced In Federal Court

The leader of an organized crime ring that stole more than 100 high-end vehicles from 15 different states and sold the vehicles in Iredell, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties has been sentenced to federal prison.

Hosea Fernandez Hampton, 27, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Hampton was sentenced in federal court on July 9 to spend eight years and one month in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson’s office said in a news release.

Hampton will also have three years of supervised release after he completes the federal prison sentence.

Hampton is one of four men and one woman to be convicted for the theft of more than 100 luxury vehicles between 2021 and 2023. Hampton’s four co-conspirators were sentenced in January 2025.

From 2021 to 2023, Hampton and his codefendants stole luxury vehicles from dealerships in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Arizona. Hampton and his co-defendants mostly stole vehicles made by Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Land Rover, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. Expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and other manufacturers were also stolen, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Hampton was one of the leaders of the auto theft ring. Hampton frequently organized the thefts, identified target dealerships, recruited drivers to transport the stolen vehicles and paid the drivers for their services. According to court records, during Hampton’s involvement in the thefts, the co-conspirators stole at least 82 vehicles worth around $5.9 million, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

A previous news release from 2025 said that throughout the entire crime spree, more than 100 vehicles were stolen.

Hampton’s four co-defendants also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce.

Dewanne Lamar White, of Sumter, South Carolina, was sentenced to nine years in prison with three years of supervised release. White also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Kevin Ja’Coryen James Fields, of Charlotte, was sentenced to eight years in prison with three years of supervised release. Fields also pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Reginald Eugene Hill, of Charlotte, was sentenced to five years in prison with two years of supervised release.

Garyka Vaughn Bost, of Denver, North Carolina, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison with two years of supervised release