Leader of Alabama high-dollar vehicle theft ring predicts his conviction: ‘That’s how I’m going out’
A west Alabama man has been convicted of leading a band of organized thieves who conspired to steal high-end vehicles by Lamborghini, Porsche and more.
A federal jury convicted Jamarus Deontae “Juke” Hoskins, a 29-year-old Greensboro man, on one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation, possession, or sale of stolen motor vehicles and three counts of interstate possession, receipt, or sale of stolen motor vehicles, according to a joint announcement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.
According to evidence presented at trial, between December 2020 and January 2023, Hoskins was the ringleader of an organized conspiracy to steal high-end motor vehicles from out-of-state private citizens and car dealerships at various locations across the U.S.
Hoskins directed members of the conspiracy to steal vehicles and replace the Vehicle Identification Numbers with fake VINs. The vehicles were registered using fraudulent out-of-state titles.
Hoskins usually took the vehicles back to Tuscaloosa and sold them for cash at below market price.
A west Alabama man, Jamarus Hoskins, has been convicted of leading a band of organized thieves who conspired to steal high-end vehicles by Lamborghini, Porsche and more.(Federal Court Documents)
Authorities say the group stole dozens of vehicles worth millions of dollars, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk from a victim in Michigan, a Chevrolet Corvette from a victim in Tennessee, three Ford trucks from a dealership in Tennessee, and a Chevrolet Camaro and several vehicle tags from another dealership in Tennessee.
Court documents show the thieves wore face masks, used burner phones and spoke in code, often via text message.
On June 25, 2022, Hoskins sent a message from his iCloud account to a group chat with co-conspirators that contained a chart titled “Juke responsibilities.”
The chart was broken down with different sections labeled, “Sell the cars,” “get the paperwork,” “don’t get no sleep,” “deal with clients,” “pay for room, food, gas, keys, type t-shirts,” “think 10x ahead for us all,” “fix everybody credit,” and “start everybody LLC.”
Beneath a picture of the chart was the following statement, “I’m the one going to prison at the end of the DAY FOR RUNNING A ORGANIZED CAR RING, but f[ ] it, that’s how I’m going out….I love you all 5L and please be safe. Let’s eat.”

A west Alabama man, Jamarus Hoskins, has been convicted of leading a band of organized thieves who conspired to steal high-end vehicles by Lamborghini, Porsche and more.(Federal Court Documents)
Documents show Hoskins was stopped by law enforcement in Tuscaloosa in August 2021 in a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee TrackHawk. After a lengthy car chase, he escaped on foot.
He was also stopped in the same month in Jefferson County driving a stolen 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and was taken into custody.
He was indicted earlier this year.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney L. Plyler and Edward J. Canter are prosecuting.
A sentencing date has not been announced.