Man sells stolen dirt bike to undercover cop in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A man was sentenced to one year and two months after selling a stolen dirt bike to an undercover cop last year in Norfolk.

26-year-old Rashane Griffith was attempting to sell a blue dirt bike in Norfolk on Facebook Marketplace. The bike has been reported stolen in January 2023 by a man in Bladen County, NC. An investigator in Bladen County contacted the Virginia State Police to help investigate and they initiated an undercover operation.

On Sept. 15, 2023, undercover agents waited at the agreed location in a parking lot off Chesapeake Boulevard. Griffith arrived in a white Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, spoke with someone in the parking lot and returned later driving the dirt bike. Another individual followed him driving the Challenger.

After selling the dirt bike to the agent, it was confirmed it was the stolen bike. Griffith was arrested after a brief foot pursuit, and the driver of the Challenger drove off. The car was later found in his girlfriend’s parking spot at her Newport News apartment.

The agents contacted the girlfriend, and she handed over a key fob programmed to the Challenger, and the agents confirmed that the Challenger was also stolen and its VIN tampered with. The VIN on the Challenger that was visible to the agents was later determined to have been copied from a different, legally registered car.

On May 30, Griffith pleaded guilty as charged to felony sale of stolen property, two counts of felony alteration of vehicle identification numbers, felony receipt of stolen goods, and misdemeanor fleeing from law enforcement. Griffith agreed to plea guilty to his charges and he would serve one year and two months in prison, with another three years and three months in custody suspended on the conditions that he complete three years of uniform good behavior and pay restitution to the rightful owner of the dirt bike.

“The Virginia State Police did a fine job in tracking and solving this interstate vehicle-theft crime,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “There are casual car thieves who steal when the opportunity arises, but Mr. Griffith’s crimes were different. Mr. Griffith planned his thefts and was trying to cover up his crimes to make money. We will continue to hold accountable the individuals who drive a disproportionate amount of crime in our city.”

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