United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

MERIDEN MAN CHARGED WITH TRANSPORTING STOLEN PORSCHE AUTOMOBILES ACROSS STATE LINES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven today returned an indictment charging JEFFREY WEINHOLD, age 27, of 142 Cynrose Place, Meriden, Connecticut, with interstate transportation of stolen Porsche automobiles and money laundering. WEINHOLD was formerly the business manager of Prestige Olds, Inc., doing business as Porsche-Audi-Suzuki of Wallingford, at 800 South Colony Road, Wallingford, Connecticut.

The five-count Indictment alleges that WEINHOLD used deceptive means to steal four Porsche automobiles from Prestige, and then, between July 31, 2004 and August 11, 2004, transported the stolen Porsches, or caused them to be transported, across state lines. The four Porsches allegedly stolen by WEINHOLD were:

One 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe valued at approximately $80,496.45, transported to Hackensack, New Jersey.

One 2004 Porsche 911 40th Anniversary Edition Coupe valued at approximately $93,320.00, transported to Springfield, Missouri.

One 2004 Porsche 996 Turbo Cabriolet valued at approximately $135,890.00, transported to New York, New York.

One 2004 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe valued at approximately $93,995.00, transported to West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Indictment further alleges that, on July 31, 2004, WEINHOLD violated a federal money laundering statute by depositing a check into a bank account in the amount of $63,500, which constituted proceeds from his interstate transportation of the above-described 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe from Connecticut to Hackensack, New Jersey.

The investigation began on August 2, 2004, when the Wallingford Police Department received a complaint from Prestige that the above-described 2004 Porsche Turbo Cabriolet had been stolen from the showroom floor. The Wallingford Police Department and the FBI have been jointly investigating the case since August 2.

Following the issuance of a criminal Complaint charging WEINHOLD with interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, WEINHOLD was arrested by FBI agents in New York City on August 11, 2004. In addition, the three 2004 Porsches have been recovered by law enforcement authorities. The investigation into the whereabouts of the 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe is ongoing. The United States Attorney's Office has obtained warrants seizing $52,466.17 of the $63,500 WEINHOLD allegedly received as proceeds from his interstate transportation of the 2001 Porsche.

After his arrest, WEINHOLD was presented before a United States Magistrate Judge in New York and was ordered detained pending his transfer to Connecticut. He is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford on August 31, 2004, at 10:00 a.m. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney.

If convicted, WEINHOLD faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to ten years for each of the five counts in which he is charged, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the five counts. In addition, if convicted of either the money laundering count or the count alleging interstate transportation of the stolen 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe, WEINHOLD will forfeit the $52.466.17 in seized funds, as well as any other funds or property that constitute proceeds of those offenses.

"This arrest and indictment could not have been made this quickly without the excellent investigative work of both the Wallingford Police and FBI," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "As a result, most of the property and more than $52,000 in alleged criminal proceeds has been recovered."

"As the behavior that is alleged to have occurred in this case comprises a major crime with nationwide dimensions, Chief Dortenzio and I are ever so proud of our staff, who at all times has demonstrated a high level of dedication, commitment and professional skill throughout this lengthy, complex and full-time investigation," said Wallingford Deputy Chief of Police Thomas J. Curran.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Wallingford Police Department and the FBI. The Hackensack (NJ) Police Department has also provided assistance in the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Biran.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov