A Madison Heights man has been sentenced to prison after being convicted in a string of auto thefts that stretched across Oakland County.
David Elliott, 37, was sentenced Tuesday to serve up to 20 years behind bars on 34 counts tied to two separate cases. Prosecutors say Elliott and his codefendants carried out a crime spree in late summer and early fall of 2023 that included the theft of 16 vehicles, the attempted theft of seven more, and the theft of a firearm.
Elliott was arrested on September 25, 2023, when he was caught trying to steal a car from the parking lot of Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield. He later entered “no contest” pleas to multiple charges, which carry the same legal weight as guilty pleas at sentencing.
“David Elliott’s crime spree resulted in the theft of vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. He disrupted victims’ lives, took their property, and upended their sense of safety,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “This sentence sends a clear message that auto thieves will be held accountable in Oakland County.”
Two others were charged in connection with the case. Demareo Scott was convicted last year, while another codefendant, Dominique Buttrom, passed away in 2024 before standing trial.
Elliott is scheduled to return to Oakland County Circuit Court on October 15 for a restitution hearing, where the financial losses tied to the thefts will be determined.
