Georgia Man Sentenced for Smuggling Stolen Cars to Africa

Savannah, GA – Prince Bediako, a 41-year-old resident of Douglasville, Georgia, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to smuggle stolen cars to Africa. The sentencing follows Bediako’s guilty plea to Smuggling. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. imposed a fine of $1,000 and ordered three years of supervised release after the prison term.

Bediako’s sentencing is a result of aiding a co-conspirator in using false and stolen identities, including both fictional and unwitting individuals’ identities, along with stolen credit cards. The co-conspirator, posing as a false identity, would engage with online dealerships, arrange to ship vehicles from another state, and make payment with a fraudulent credit card, leaving the dealership without actual payment.

Bediako facilitated the transportation of these fraudulently obtained vehicles to the Port of Savannah. He then attempted to smuggle the vehicles to Ghana, concealing his identity and involvement in the scheme using the false and stolen identities. The Port of Savannah intercepted the shipments, preventing the successful execution of the plan.

The investigation involved the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Georgia Ports Authority Police Department, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jenna G. Solari and Darron J. Hubbard.

Contact
Barry L. Paschal, Public Affairs Officer: 912-652-4422