Three Indicted on 117 Counts for Facebook Marketplace ATV and Dirt Bike Theft Scheme Spanning Over Four Years

From May 2021 to November 2025, Antonio Odom, Michael Atkins, and Timothy Neal, as well as additional unknown individuals, operated a criminal enterprise targeting individuals across the United States through Facebook Marketplace who were attempting to sell dirt bikes and/or ATVs.

The individuals operated as a group and would create fraudulent Facebook accounts in order to perpetuate the scheme. A member of the group would create a counterfeit Facebook account using common names such as “Anthony Johnson,” “Kevin Johnson,” “Chris Johnson, “John Williams,” “Jack Ryan,” and “Joseph Smith,” among others, and then message the seller inquiring about the location and the condition of the vehicle. They would then use various tactics to entice the seller to the Cleveland area. These tactics would include offering over the asking price, offering to pay in all cash for delivery, sending photos of large amounts of money, sending a phone number, and speaking to the seller on the phone. Once the seller agreed to deliver the vehicle to the Cleveland area, members of the organization would request photos of the vehicle loaded up for transport and would request updates on the seller’s estimated time of arrival.

Upon arriving at the agreed delivery location, a member would ask to test-drive the vehicle and would often provide a large envelope with a bank logo on it as a sign of good faith. After the test drive was agreed to, the member would then drive off with the vehicle and not return. When the sellers opened the envelopes, they were often filled with counterfeit money or stacks of white paper. After the theft was complete, members of the organization would arrange to resell the stolen vehicle.

The members of the organization employed various techniques to disguise their efforts. The techniques included using phone number-disguising technology and the Facebook block feature to prevent victims from reporting the accounts that stole the vehicles. In addition, they also monitored public Facebook pages dedicated to victims of ATV and dirt bike thefts.

While operating, the enterprise stole 55 dirt bikes and ATVs over the course of 4.5 years, totaling over $200,000. They engaged in attempts to defraud and/or steal from over 1,000 victims, totaling over $7.5 million in value. The investigation is being conducted by the Cleveland Division of Police’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th District Detective Bureaus, as well as the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and Garfield Heights Police Department.

The matter remains under investigation.

The victims ranged in age and were from the following locations:

• Bellefontaine, OH
• Caldwell, OH
• Canton, OH
• Columbus, OH
• Conneaut, OH
• Covington, OH
• Fairfield, OH
• Hinkley, OH
• Lyons, OH
• Monlova, OH
• Niles, OH
• Pandora, OH
• Richmond, OH
• Toledo, OH
• Westerville, OH
• Wooster, OH
• Franklin, IN
• Fremont, IN
• Kingman, IN
• Kokomo, IN
• Ligonier, IN
• North Vernon, IN
• Roanoke, IN
• Seymore, IN
• Versailles, IN
• Dryridge, KY
• Georgetown, KY
• McCarr, KY
• Bruce Township, MI
• Charlotte, MI
• Grandville, MI
• Kimball, MI
• Ottawa Lake, MI
• Sebewaing, MI
• Shelby Township, MI
• Taylor, MI
• Dundee, NY
• Rochester, NY
• Elkview, WV
• Folsom, WV
• Prichard, WV
• Ripley, WV
• Aliquippa, PA
• Bellwood, PA
• Bentleville, PA
• Chicora, PA
• Ford City, PA
• Hanover, PA
• Trout Run, PA

On August 13, 2026, Antonio Odom, Michael Atkins were indicted by a grand jury on 117 counts.

Charges include:

• Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
• Conspiracy
• Telecommunications Fraud
• Aggravated Theft
• Grand Theft Motor Vehicle
• Aggravated Robbery
• Robbery
• Possessing Criminal Tools

They will be arraigned at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center at a later date.