Detroit man sentenced for his role in a criminal auto theft network

A Detroit man, Caesar Cooper, has been sentenced to 5 to 20 years in prison for his role in a criminal auto theft enterprise, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. Cooper, 25, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced on Aug. 11 by Judge Cheryl A. Matthews in Oakland County’s 6th Circuit Court on one count of conducting a criminal enterprise. He was charged in November 2025 with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise and two counts of receiving and concealing stolen property. Authorities allege Cooper helped orchestrate multiple thefts across Metro Detroit from 2023 to 2025, including vehicles such as a 2023 Lincoln Navigator and 2023 Cadillac Escalade. Nessel’s FORCE Team, partnering with local police including Troy, said the ring targeted new vehicle storage lots and residences; 15 defendants have been sentenced since 2024.