The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) arrested a man for running a title-washing ring following an almost year-long investigation.
HCSO’s Auto Theft Unit began the investigation in March 2024, when deputies responded to the Plant City Tax Collector’s Office after Essa Cham, 46, attempted to use a fraudulent South Carolina title to retitle a 2022 Mercedes GLE 350 in Florida.
The investigation led detectives to Ahmed Njie, 40, who was re-vining vehicles in order to fraudulently retitle the vehicles in Florida. In addition to Cham, detectives identified two other co-defendants helping Njie, Czedsia Simon, 45, and Seynabou Sall, 42.
In June 2024, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a driver in a Range Rover, which was a vehicle of interest in the investigation and suspected of being re-vined. The driver used a false name, but deputies later determined it was Njie. Njie was arrested and charged with false name to law enforcement Officer and driving while license canceled, suspended, or revoked. The Range Rover was then inspected, and detectives located multiple fraudulent VIN stickers on the Range Rover. The vehicle was reported stolen on June 18, 2022, by the Lake City Police Department.
Detectives have evidence to suggest Njie has been in possession of seven vehicles. The vehicles included two Mercedes-Benz, a Toyota, a Genesis, a Jeep, a Dodge, and a Range Rover. Five of these vehicles have been re-vined. Three of these vehicles were reported stolen. One of these vehicles was fraudulently titled in the state of Florida using a fraudulent identity.
Njie was out on bond when he was arrested on January 28, 2025. Njie has been charged with:
- RICO Violation
- RICO Conspiracy or Endeavor
- Unlawful Use of Two Way Communication Device
- Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (X3)
- Forged Motor Vehicle or Mobile Home Title
- Sell or Possess Vehicle with Altered Numbers (X6)
- Knowingly Use Altered or Forged Title (X3)
“The diligent work of our detectives has led to the dismantling of this fraudulent operation,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “Let this arrest send a message that criminal schemes will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.”
