Two Sentenced in Stolen Vehicle Scheme; Third Previously Sentenced
Federal judge sentences two men for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle; a third co-defendant was sentenced earlier.
2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 8, 2026, 10:46 a.m. ET
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Earlier reports
Sep 8, 2026, 10:46 a.m. ETFirst report
Two Sentenced in Stolen Vehicle Scheme; Third Previously Sentenced
STATESBORO, Georgia — Two men were sentenced in federal court on September 8, 2026, for their roles in a stolen vehicle operation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall imposed the sentences, which were announced by U.S. Attorney Margaret E. “Meg” Heap.
Marcial Diaz-Sanchez, 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. Isaiah Joseph Jaimes, 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served, three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution of $70,859 on the same charge. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and a co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle they knew was stolen from Texas, using Facebook Marketplace to arrange the sale to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff. A search of a defendant's phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency. A third co-defendant, Rene Armando Reyes Velasquez, 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to the same charge.
“Know this: those that steal another’s property and disregard federal law will face justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case.” Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Statesboro office, said, “Stealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences.” The FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon.
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Revision history
- Version 18 Sept 2026, 14:52current
First published.
- Version 18 Sept 2026, 14:46current
First published.
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