Three indicted in stolen rental cars investigation

Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 | 9:40 a.m.

A Clark County grand jury returned a 38-count indictment Friday against three men accused of running an auto theft ring.

Odell Benefield, Peter Gomoll and Richard Parcells are each charged with 15 counts of grand larceny auto, 15 counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of obtaining money under false pretenses, two related conspiracy charges and four counts of possession of a credit or debit card without cardholder's consent.

Deputy District Attorney Steve Waters told Chief District Judge Michael Douglas he was seeking an indictment against a fourth person, Isabel Hernandez, on charges of helping the trio sell the stolen vehicles to newly immigrated Hispanics.

Prosecutors allege Benefield helped his co-defendants steal at least 15 vehicles from Dollar Thrifty Rent-a-Car, where Benefield was employed. Benefield gave Gomoll a "clicker" to gain access to the rental car parking lot and would call him whenever the coast was clear for Gomoll to steal a vehicle.

Parcells would then help Gomoll and Benefield hide the vehicles in various parts of Las Vegas until they were able to sell the vehicles, according to the the indictment.

At least two of the stolen vehicles were sold to unsuspecting victims brought to the three defendants by Hernandez, Waters said.

"It's the state's position that these men were taking advantage of these buyers, who were predominantly Spanish speakers, new to the country, who did not know to question whether the cars were stolen," Waters said.

Another 15 cars are missing from the rental car company that have not been accounted for, Waters said.

Benefield was also in possession of four credit or debit cards belonging to a woman who says she lost her purse while volunteering in a church gift shop, Waters said.

Waters successfully asked for the three men's bail to be increased to $150,000 each. They were all in the Clark County Detention Center.