By Redaccion
redaccion@latinocc.com
A Compton man has been sentenced to 16 months in Ventura County Jail for his role in a vehicle theft ring in Southern California, authorities reported.
Joel Quiñonez, 23, pleaded guilty on January 13 to one felony count of auto theft and received his sentence on February 11, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities stated that Quiñonez was part of a criminal group that stole multiple late-model vehicles in Los Angeles and Ventura counties between October and November 2024. The thieves used electronic tools to unlock and start the cars without a physical key.
Following an investigation, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department searched the residences of Quiñonez and a juvenile accomplice in Compton last November, leading to their arrest.
At the time of the offenses, Quiñonez was on probation in Los Angeles County for a prior grand theft auto case, officials added.
Deputy District Attorney Katherine Plante, from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
“This sentencing sends a clear message: Organized crime targeting our community will not go unpunished,” Plante said in a statement. “Auto theft rings prey on hardworking families, harm local businesses, and fuel broader criminal activity. This outcome reflects the tireless efforts of law enforcement and our commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.”
The East County Special Enforcement Unit of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with support from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
