Family Of 3 Indicted In Auto Theft Ring

TRENTON, N.J. - A Union County grand jury has indicted a family of three for allegedly shipping stolen cars from New Jersey to the Ukraine.

According to officials, Yakov Kovalev, 48, Marina Kovalev, 42, and Radion ’Radik’ Kovlev, 19, all of Buena, have been charged with second-degree receiving stolen property and second-degree fencing, while Yakov Kovalev will also face a charge for allegedly acting as the leader of an auto theft network.

The indictment alleges the three received several stolen vehicles, including a 2009 Hummer H2, two 2009 Volkswagen Passats, a 2009 Volkswagen Golf and two 2009 Ford Focuses, with an estimated combined value of more than $200,000. All of the vehicles belonged to car dealerships, according to law enforcement. The indictment also alleges the three had conspired to ship the vehicles to the City of Odessa in the Ukraine from New Jersey between Oct. 25, 20008 and March 16, 2009.

The investigation into the alleged stolen car trafficking had started when Interpol discovered the Hummer H2 to have been stolen, according to officials.

The three are expected to appear in a Union County court at a later date. If convicted of a second-degree offense, the three are facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in a state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.