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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2011 A South Side man who ran an auto theft ring that specialized in stealing and reselling rental cars has been sentenced to thirty years in prison, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Lynn Williams, 41, whose last known address was in the 6300 Block of South Ada, remains at large after fleeing during his trial last December. According to prosecutors, beginning in 2004 Williams would provide numerous women with funds to rent cars. After obtaining them, Williams would have them report the cars stolen and turn them over to him. He would then create new identification numbers, switch their license plates, and resell them. Authorities learned of the scheme when one of the women was caught in one of the stolen vehicles. She named Williams as the one who had recruited her. Authorities put Williams under surveillance and he was arrested in 2005. He was charged with one count each of Organizer of a Vehicle Theft Conspiracy, Unlawful Alteration of Vehicle Identification and three counts of Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. Williams was tried last year but fled before his conviction was announced. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he remains at large. Today Judge Domenica Stephenson sentenced him in absentia to thirty years in prison. State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked members of the Illinois State Police’s North East Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force and Assistant State’s Attorneys Mary Quinn and Anne Head for their hard work on the case.
Cook County State's Attorney's Office:
Press Releases
Anita Alvarez
Cook County State's Attorney
Communications Department
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-3423
saomedia@cookcountygov.com
Auto Theft Scheme Nets Defendant Thirty Year Prison Sentence