Operation Escalading Switch: 3 arrests made in Phoenix area amid anti-organized vehicle theft operation

Alleged luxury car theft ring busted in Arizona

Three people in Glendale were arrested in an operation targeting an alleged luxury car theft ring. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has the details.

PHOENIX - DPS troopers arrested three people in Glendale as part of an operation that DPS officials say targeted organized vehicle theft in the Phoenix area.

29-year-old Ali Ahmad, 32-year-old Delia Rocha, and 33-year-old Mario Garcia Rodriguez

What we know:

In a statement, DPS identified the three as 29-year-old Ali Ahmad, 32-year-old Delia Rocha, and 33-year-old Mario Garcia Rodriguez. Video released by DPS shows a large law enforcement presence in a Glendale neighborhood, as officers took Ahmad into custody.

K-9 units were at the scene, and officers had their guns drawn, as they ordered Ahmad to come out of the home.

Ahmad, Rocha, and Rodriguez were arrested as part of "Operation Escalading Switch."

DPS said search warrants executed at seven different locations led to the 29 cars being recovered. The cars were all luxury brands, from a Mercedes-Benz to a Corvette, and a Rolls-Royce.

Authorities also seized weapons and cash at Ahmad's home.

Ali Mustafa Ahmad (left) and Delia Alejandra Rocha (right)

Dig deeper:

Ahmad, who owns a company called AAA Rent A Car LLC and a number of other businesses, is believed to be the leader of a theft ring.

Ahmad is accused of running a scheme involving stolen cars that have their vehicle identification number (VIN) altered before they are listed on a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform called Turo for rent.

A multi-agency investigation began in late 2024, after the discovery of a Cadillac Escalade with its VIN switched that was registered to Ahmad’s company. In all, DPS officials say 34 vehicles registered to Ahmad had their VIN switched, and many were stolen from California. Investigators believe Rocha's Avondale home is where the VIN switching took place.

Ahmad allegedly profited $160,000 through rentals on Turo from early 2025. In April, another suspect linked the operation to a cartel handler in Nogales, who provided fraudulent VIN labels.

"The fact that the suspect has ties abroad, including ties to Mexico and the cartel as well as ties to the Middle East and Dubai specifically. He does have the resources and finances to flee your honor," said Ashley Stetson, prosecutor at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

What Turo Officials Are Saying:

Turo cooperated with the investigation. Officials with the company have released a statement on the matter, which reads:

"We're grateful to AZDPS, the Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force, and Turo’s dedicated Trust and Safety investigators for working together to remove these criminals from Phoenix metro streets. Unfortunately, this host’s insider access to the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles enabled them to disguise stolen vehicles as legitimate rentals. We immediately collaborated with investigators to expose the full scheme. Moreover, criminal behavior is extremely rare on our platform and we have zero tolerance for it. Our Trust and Safety team, many former law enforcement, remains dedicated to keeping our car sharing community safe by removing criminals from our platform and assisting law enforcement with putting culprits behind bars."

What's next:

According to court documents we have obtained for the three suspects, Ahmad is accused of the following:

• 34 counts of Theft of Means of Transportation (A.R.S. 13-1814A1)
• 34 counts of Theft of Means of Transportation (A.R.S. 13-1814A5)
• 34 counts of Altering Vehicle Serial/ID Number (A.R.S. 28-4593B)
• 34 counts of Conducting a Chop Shop - Altering Vehicle ID Number (A.R.S. 13-4702A4)
• 1 count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices (A.R.S. 13-2310A)
• 1 count of Illegal Control of Enterprise (A.R.S. 13-2312A)
• 1 count of Knowingly Initiating Money Laundering (A.R.S. 13-4702A1)
• 1 count of Owning/Operating a Chop Shop (A.R.S. 13-4702A1)

Ahmad’s co-defendants each face one count of fraudulent schemes, but he is facing 140 charges, the majority of them for theft, chop shop and altering vehicle serial ID numbers.

Prosecutors believe Ahmad is a flight risk, saying millions of dollars are available through family businesses. His cash bond is set at $250,000, with both Garcia Rodriguez and Rocha’s cash bond being set at $25,000.

They've already bailed out of jail.

Ahmad’s luxury car rental business, called VVIP car rental, was scheduled to open next week in Phoenix. All three defendants have court hearings on June 23.