Kingpin of group that trafficked in stolen vehicles gets 31/2 years

A Calgary man who ran a crime group that trafficked in $2 million in stolen vehicles has been sentenced to 3½ years in prison.

Justice Karen Horner sentenced Tyler Roger Scott Tuesday, on charges of trafficking in stolen automobiles and instructing a person to traffic in stolen goods on behalf of a criminal organization.

Horner sentenced Scott to three years on the trafficking and an additional six months on the criminal organization charge.

Crown prosecutor Tony Bell had sought a total sentence of four years, while defence counsel Jim Edgett argued for a two-year term followed by probation.

According to a statement of agreed facts made an exhibit following Scott’s guilty pleas to the charged, the city man ran an organization that pilfered 75 vehicles, some of which were sold to unsuspecting victims.

“Scott ... was the head, and directing mind, of a criminal organization that trafficked stolen, cloned, motor vehicles,” the court exhibit said.

Between Jan. 19, 2017, and Aug. 30, 2018, Scott’s groups sold automobiles which were cloned, meaning they had valid vehicle identification number plates put onto stolen goods.

“These stolen vehicles had an approximate market value of $2 million,” the statement of agreed facts said.

“Some of these vehicles were sold to unsuspecting third parties.

Scott sourced the vehicles from unindicted co-conspirators. (He) had a network of car thieves he used to obtain stolen vehicles.

These stolen vehicles were recovered from the third parties and they have not been compensated for their losses.

“Scott sourced the vehicles from unindicted co-conspirators,” it said.

“Scott had a network of car thieves he used to obtain stolen vehicles. Sometimes members of this network would come to Scott with vehicles they had stolen and sometimes Scott would direct people in the network to steal particular types of vehicles.”

He also instructed one accomplice to forge documents to legitimize the registration of the vehicles and arranged transport of them to Saskatchewan, where they were sold by another accomplice.

With credit for pre-trial custody, Scott will have a little more than 18 months left to serve.