This Crew Stole Two Dozen Muscle Cars Each for Street Takeover Clout. The Law That Caught Them Predates the Muscle Car Itself.

Nigel Criss and Rafael Otero Nieves were sentenced in federal court this month after prosecutors tied their car thefts to interstate travel. Criss received 54 months, while Otero Nieves was given 84 months, along with eight co-conspirators who also faced sentences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said the crew spent roughly two years targeting high-end “muscle” vehicles at dealership lots across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. They drove the cars across state lines and showcased them at organized car meetups and street takeovers, with incidents including an October 3, 2023 raid in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.