STANCATT members Investigator Darren Ruskamp, Investigator A.J. Palazuelos, Sergeant Mike Brush, Investigator Matt McCain, Detective Kyle Briggs, and Parole Agent Grady Welch receiving the 2021 Component/Parts Marking Award

The IAATI Components/Parts Marking Award is sponsored by Recoveri and honors any person or organization for distinguished performance where the marking of vehicle and equipment components or parts played a significant role in the success of a vehicle identification investigation or related initiative.  

Vehicle manufacturers may be recognized for developing or deploying innovative VIN labels, supplemental ID marks, in-factory electronic parts marking, etc.   Aftermarket suppliers may be recognized for etching or branding solutions, RF tags, microdots, DNA fluids, UV light markings, and other antitheft marking methods.  Nominees must be eligible for IAATI membership but need not be active members. 

Members of STANCATT, the Stanislaus County Auto Theft Taskforce, were recognized for planning and executing their very successful Operation Mudslinger, a VIN-switch investigation based on a tip from a local GMC dealership. In August 2020, a 2020 Cadillac Escalade was brought into their repair shop, which was unable to ascertain its true VIN.  Investigators confirmed the Escalade's VIN as fraudulent but were unable to locate any secondary VINs for positive identification.  A further inspection of the Escalade revealed a cloned aftermarket Daimler-Chrysler ECM had been installed to bypass access to the Escalade's true ECM, preventing investigators from obtaining the Escalade's true VIN electronically.  The Escalade was later picked up by its owner and, for several weeks, investigators conducted surveillance on the vehicle, discovering it was associated with several other VIN-switched stolen vehicles.  Ultimately, the Escalade was seized and, as the result of a Berla download of its infotainment system, its true VIN was confirmed.  During the months-long investigation, these investigators located and recovered the remaining seven vehicles and performed Berla acquisitions of their infotainment systems, confirming the identity of several of these vehicles.  In total, STANCATT recovered eight newer-model high-end stolen vehicles with an estimated value of $527,009.00, identified six additional vehicles, and arrested three key subjects.