Local man sentenced in alleged auto theft ring

Olson, along with one of two co-accused, was previously scheduled for trial in Edmonton Court of King’s Bench from Nov. 24-Dec. 5, 2025.

His sentence is to be served consecutively to time he’s already serving on other matters. The incidents relating to these charges occurred between Feb. 12, 2024-April 16, 2024.

Co-accused William Raymond Blackwood, 48, of Lac Ste. Anne County, saw all of his charges withdrawn on Aug. 1, 2025, while co-accused Nikki Taylor-Yargeau, 26, saw all charges against her withdrawn on Nov. 24, 2025.

It was on June 27, 2024, when the Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit announced it had recovered vehicles worth in excess of $500,000, through a three-month investigation.

In March 2024, the unit identified a trend of brand new Ford Explorers being stolen from dealerships throughout central Alberta.

An RCMP spokesperson confirmed the incidences included a single time at Spruce Grove’s Zender Ford, two at Heartland Ford in Fort Saskatchewan, one at Innisfail’s Four Lane Ford, one at Red Deer’s MGM Ford, four in Edmonton at City Ford, Koch Ford and Team Ford, one in Rimbey at Buist GMC, one at Sherwood GMC in Sherwood Park, one at D&D Auto Sales in Camrose, and one at Legacy Ford in Ponoka.

Police said the thefts were sophisticated and involved suspects allegedly programming new keys for vehicles being driven off dealership lots with both sets of keys accounted for. It was then discovered that the Explorers and numerous others were being re-vinned and registered in Alberta with the fraudulent VIN numbers before being used in the aforementioned crimes.

RCMP alleged the stolen vehicles were used in incidents such as the following:

A 2023 GMC Acadia AT4 that was believed to have been involved in the homicide of Mohamed Abdi in Edmonton.
A vehicle linked to a shooting on March 30, 2024, in the Mycroft Townhouses in North Edmonton.
Two vehicles at the Port of Vancouver, both of which were set to be exported from Canada.
One vehicle in Ontario by York Regional Police and $150,000 was seized therein.

As a result of this investigation which included the execution of multiple search warrants in the Edmonton area, RCMP recovered:

7 stolen Ford Explorers;
4 stolen Ford F350’s;
A stolen GMC Acadia;
A stolen Toyota Rav4;
4 stolen trailers;
2 stolen snowmobiles;
Several devices capable of programming vehicle keys;
A radio frequency detector for locating GPS trackers in vehicles;
An estimated $30,000 in Cocaine;
$5000 in Fentanyl;
as well as MDMA and Methamphetamine.

As a result of this investigation, Quinn Olson, was originally charged with:

Theft of Motor Vehicle (x2);
Fraudulent Concealment (x2);
Break and Enter;
Possession of break in instruments;
Possession of master key;
Altering a VIN number;
Possession of property obtained by crime (x10);
Uttering a forged document (x10).

Nikki Yargeau was originally charged with:

Break and enter;
Fraudulent concealment
Possession of property obtained by crime (x4);
Theft of motor vehicle;
Uttering a forged document (x3).

William Blackwood was originally charged with seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

“This investigation has uncovered an active organized crime group securing large amounts of stolen vehicles and property which are being utilized in serious organized crimes and or sold with the intent of exportation outside of Canada,” said RCMP in a statement, following the arrests.

“Statistically, the majority of vehicle thefts in Alberta consist of crimes of opportunity, with vehicles stolen while left running or unlocked which are subsequently used for a short time frame and later recovered. The Alberta RCMP Auto Theft Unit would like to remind Albertans that the most effective way to protect yourself is to lock your vehicle and never leave keys in the ignition.”

RCMP add, that its Auto Theft Unit has been working with vehicle manufactures to resolve the vulnerabilities in their vehicle systems in order to prevent future vehicle thefts.

by Sheldon Spackman

Local man sentenced in alleged auto theft ring

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