The FBI on Friday charged a West African man with stealing multiple identities to buy or lease at least 10 high-end, luxury vehicles from dealerships across the country, including two in Pittsburgh.

Serge Ahmed Zeba, 30, was charged with aggravated identity theft and wire fraud in federal court.

The 23-page criminal complaint lays out an ongoing course of conduct, from Pittsburgh to Savannah, Ga. to Lincoln, Neb., in which Zeba would apply for credit using stolen identities and then attempt to buy or lease new, or expensive cars.

When he was approved for the deals — which happened at least five times — he paid using fraudulent money orders.

Zeba, who was born in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and came to the United States in 2013, has multiple arrest warrants in several states for similar fraudulent conduct, the FBI said.

According to the criminal complaint, he stole the identities of at least seven people.

Zeba, who claims to be a recording artist, musician and event promoter, was taken into custody by police officers in Alexandria, Va., on Jan. 26. Officers in the Washington, D.C., metro area had been on the lookout for him after they received a tip.

That night, officers on foot patrol near a hotel stopped a man they saw driving a brand new BMW X6. According to the complaint, the man provided a fraudulent driver’s license, but when they ran his fingerprints, they traced back to Zeba.

The BMW’s license plate showed it had been stolen in Baltimore County.

The criminal conduct laid out in the complaint dates back to at least 2020.

Other cases:

• On Dec. 8, 2020, investigators said that Zeba, using a stolen identity, was approved to lease a 2021 BMW X6 from a dealership in Savannah. He paid $5,000 in fraudulent money orders and left with the vehicle. After it was reported stolen, the car was tracked to New York City, and when police officers arrived, Zeba was inside.

It is unclear from the complaint if Zeba was charged at the time, and if so when, or how he was released.

However, the complaint goes on to accuse him of several more incidents from July through last month.

• Last July 27, the complaint said, Zeba used another stolen identity to buy a 2022 BMW 840XI, priced at $88,275 from BMW of Lincoln, Neb. In that instance, investigators said he made again the down payment with $5,000 worth of fraudulent money orders.

• On Aug. 21, the complaint said Zeba attempted to lease a 2021 Mercedes Benz AMG GT valued at $108,570 from a dealership in Dublin, Ohio. However, the bank that received the application refused to finance the amount, and the transaction was declined.

The dealership tried to get the buyer back to their lot as they attempted to contact local police, but the person refused.

Pittsburgh cases

• Around that same time, the complaint said, Zeba submitted an online application using a stolen identity to lease a 2021 Lexus RX350 with a sticker price of $60,529 from Rohrich Lexus in Pittsburgh.

After completing the online credit application, it was approved and Zeba arrived at the dealer Aug. 24. Using three $1,000 money orders for a down payment, he left with the vehicle.

The money orders were returned as fraudulent on Sept. 17, and the car was reported stolen.

• Then, on Aug. 29, the complaint said, Zeba, still using a stolen identity, went to P&W BMW on Baum Boulevard to lease a 2022 BMW M850i X-Drive with a sticker price of $104,675.

The credit line was approved, and Zeba picked up the vehicle a few days later, providing a down payment of $7,000 in money orders.

Again the money orders were returned as fraudulent, and the vehicle was reported as stolen.

Cadillac, Audi, BMW, 2 Lamborghinis

• On Sept. 4, the FBI said Zeba attempted to buy a 2021 Cadillac Escalade valued at $105,238 in Bethesda, Md. But in that instance, his financing application was declined.

• On Oct. 19, Zeba attempted to buy a 2021 Audi Q8 with a sticker price of $81,945 in Omaha. A credit fraud specialist who became suspicious alerted the Pennsylvania State Police, Western Regional Auto Theft Task Force, which had begun an investigation. The dealership attempted to stall the man at the dealership, but he left before officers could arrive.

• On Dec. 4, Zeba requested to lease a 2022 BMW x6 priced at $91,645 at a dealership in Towson, Md. He submitted a credit application in the name of one of several identities he was alleged to have used and was approved.

He paid with five $1,000 money orders and left with the vehicle. Thirteen days later, BMW Financial found the money orders were fraudulent, the complaint said, and the vehicle was reported stolen to the police.

• Then, on Jan. 10, investigators said Zeba attempted to buy a 2015 Lamborghini Huracan for $238,900 from a dealership in Lincoln, Neb., using $10,000 in money orders for the down payment. In that case, the dealership became suspicious, the affidavit said, and stopped the transaction.

• Investigators found, through tracking the stolen identities, that an additional purchase attempt occurred — and failed — in Atlanta for a 2021 Lamborghini Urus for $250,000.

According to the criminal complaint, the BMW stolen from Nebraska was found in a garage by Metropolitan police in Washington, D.C., along with a Lexus stolen from Lincoln, as well.

When investigators searched Zeba’s hotel room in Alexandria, they found what they consider to be tools of the identity theft trade.

Those items included a laser printer, Scotch tape, checks made out in various names; 10 drivers’ licenses with various names and issued by various states — most of them fraudulent; several bank cards in different names or with no names; several blank money orders; office supplies; and a Dremel Tool with a fine sanding bit, which the complaint said is tradecraft to peel away or “wash” legitimate documents.

They also found a fraudulent American permanent resident card in Zeba’s name. He is in custody in Alexandra.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---