Los Angeles Duo Facing Felony Charges Connected to Thousand Oaks Dealership Burglary

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (KEYT) – Two Los Angeles men are facing felony charges after allegedly breaking into a local auto dealership and stealing a Corvette valued at over $105,000.

The duo, 39-year-old Johne Lene Ivy and 29-year-old Brandon Montel Taylor, are each charged with one felony count of second-degree commercial burglary and one felony count of unlawful taking of a vehicle stated a press release from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The local prosecutor's office noted the Ivy has a prior conviction that counts as a strike on his record.

In the early hours of May 19 of this year, Ivy and Taylor are alleged to have driven from Los Angeles before breaking into the GMC Buick dealership at the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Once inside, the men have been accused of stealing a 2026 Chevrolet Corvette valued at over $105,000 shared the local district attorney's office.

Sheriff's detectives were able to identify the defendants during the course of their investigation and, after surveilling and arresting the duo, served search warrants at multiple locations in Los Angeles noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, numerous stolen vehicles from other jurisdictions were recovered during the searches with a combined estimated value of over $1.3 million, but the missing Thousand Oaks Corvette was not recovered.

Ivy and Taylor pled not guilty during their arraignment and are currently scheduled for an early disposition conference on August 5 of this year shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The local prosecutor's office noted that over their office's objection, both men were released on their own recognizance during their criminal proceedings.