MADISON HEIGHTS, MI — A Madison Heights man, David Elliott, has been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a 2023 auto theft spree that included the theft of 16 vehicles, authorities announced Tuesday.
According to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, Elliott, 37, was convicted for his role in a series of crimes that disrupted lives and caused significant financial loss.
“David Elliott’s crime spree resulted in the theft of vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars,” McDonald said in a statement. “This sentence sends a clear message that auto thieves will be held accountable in Oakland County.”
The Crimes
Prosecutors said Elliott, along with two co-defendants, stole 16 vehicles, attempted to steal 7 others, and stole a firearm during a wave of thefts in late summer and early fall of 2023.
He was arrested on September 25, 2023, after attempting to steal a vehicle from the Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield parking lot.
In January 2025, Elliott pleaded no contest to multiple felony charges, including:
Unlawful driving away of a vehicle (5-year felony)
Felonious assault (4-year felony)
Resisting arrest (2-year felony)
Co-Defendants and Related Cases
Demareo Scott, a co-defendant, was convicted in August 2024 and sentenced to one year in jail.
Dominique Buttrom, the third suspect, died in 2024 before trial.
Ongoing Auto Theft Crisis
The Elliott case is the latest in a growing series of auto theft investigations across Michigan. Recent incidents include:
Eight men charged in an international car smuggling ring in Dearborn.
A $200,000 auto theft ring being investigated in Calhoun County.
A 12-year-old Pontiac boy arrested twice in one month for allegedly stealing cars.
Officials are warning that auto theft remains a significant threat to public safety and property in Michigan communities.
