A stolen Rolls-Royce in Plano sparked a multi-agency investigation, recovering several luxury vehicles worth $1.5 million.
PLANO, Texas — It started with a single stolen Rolls-Royce in West Plano and that quickly unraveled into a high-stakes, multi-agency investigation across North Texas.
On June 6, Plano Police Auto Theft Detectives launched a probe after a 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre was stolen from a valet stand. Surveillance footage led investigators to a suspect vehicle—a 2025 Mercedes S63 AMG—already flagged by Texas DPS.
Just five days later, on June 11, law enforcement from Plano Police, Texas DPS, Dallas Police, and the FBI executed search warrants at two Dallas-area homes. What they found was staggering: six high-end stolen vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce Spectre, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Cadillac Escalade-V, Maserati Levante, and Audi RS7. Total value? Nearly $1.5 million.
“They were specifically targeting high-end luxury vehicles, and they apparently knew how to get access to them,” said Plano Police Officer Jerry Minton.
Police say the suspects were seen on surveillance dismantling a car’s trunk, attempting to disable GPS trackers.
“They were trying to remove the actual GPS from the vehicles,” Minton confirmed.
How were they getting in? It was often a “target of opportunity. They were able to gain access to the vehicle’s keys.”
In total, three suspects were arrested for Theft Over $300,000—a first-degree felony in Texas. A fourth person was arrested for charges unrelated to the theft ring. Police say those arrested are Oscar Ivan Valdez, 28, Salvador Hernandez, 29, Miguel Angel Hernandez, 27. Police say Valdez is still at the Collin County Jail on 15 active arrest warrants from other agencies, plus Plano PD charges. Salvador and Miguel Hernandez have bonded out.
“Texas has what’s called a value ladder,” said defense attorney Jeremy Rosenthal of TexasDefenseFirm.com. “The more valuable the item that’s being stolen, the higher the punishments are.”
Each agency had been tracking its own cases until it became clear they were dealing with the same suspects.
“After sharing some information, we realized we were working the same suspects,” Minton said. “It all came together.”
With federal agencies now involved, the stakes are even higher.
“Federal sentencing is a whole other ballgame,” Rosenthal noted. “When the feds get involved, they play for keeps.”
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