A woman currently in custody in Arlington County, Virginia, is accused of partaking in a scheme alongside an accomplice, involving stealing vehicles and altering their VINs (vehicle identification numbers). At the time, the woman was a police officer in Maryland.
According to the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), the investigation began back on March 18, 2025. At around 11:39 a.m., officers were conducting extra checks inside a parking garage located in the 800 block of Army Navy Drive.
The cops then noticed a suspicious, unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot. The officers approached it to investigate.
It was during this investigation that the officers unveiled a discrepancy in the car’s VIN. This would lead to the discovery of a fellow out-of-state police officer’s alleged involvement in a fraud scheme.
Stolen Car, Altered VIN
As per the ACPD, the vehicle in question had been reported stolen out of Nevada. Most notably, the vehicle was displaying an altered VIN.
The officers waited for the occupants to return to the car. Once they did, both of them were detained.
They were identified as 35-year-old Renaldo Gaines and 33-year-old Sierra Alston. The latter was a police officer in Maryland at the time.
VIN Fraud Scheme
An investigation into auto theft, fraud, and conspiracy followed the March 2025 incident. In time, investigators managed to put every part of the puzzle together.
According to the ACPD, the suspects conspired to steal vehicles and acquire them. They are accused of altering these vehicles’ VINs to evade detection.
Alston landed in very hot water. Arlington police accuse her of using law enforcement resources to aid Gaines in their fraud and theft scheme.
As reported by DC News Now, Alston, who was separated from the Prince George’s County Police Department in December 2025, was charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in office and solicitation of misconduct in office. This was announced back in March 2026.
Arrested and Charged
Over a year later, in July 2026, officers executed arrest warrants on both Gaines and Alston. With assistance from the United States Marshals Service, they were taken into custody in Washington, D.C., on July 23. One day later, they turned themselves into the ACPD’s custody.
Gaines is charged with grand larceny auto, possession of a vehicle with serial numbers removed or altered, two counts of receiving stolen goods, two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, and petit larceny. Meanwhile, Alston is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony.
If Gaines is convicted of the grand larceny auto charge alone, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
The case remains under active criminal investigation.