Grand Jury: Phony Tow Company Took Cars, Didn't Return Them

DENVER (CBS4) - A Denver grand jury has indicted a former NFL player and two others for allegedly stealing cars by posing as a towing company.

Ostell Shawn Miles has been charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and 38 other counts, including aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft, forgery and conspiracy to commit identity theft.

Alyssa Lamb and John Ecoffey have also been charged by indictment with numerous felony counts, including aggravated motor vehicle theft.

The charges allege that Miles, 44, used numerous business names to pose as a towing company, including 24 Hour Towing, ASAP Towing, Poundstone Towing, Denver Towing, Pro-Tech Automotive and Lamb Enterprises.

At least 10 people who lost money or vehicles are listed in the indictment. Denver's district attorney's office said there may be more victims.

He and his co-defendants responded to calls for towing services, hooked up the vehicles and stole them. The indictment identifies 10 victims and losses of almost $169,000 but it is possible there are additional victims. Anyone who has had their car towed by one of the above companies and cannot locate their vehicle should contact the Denver DA's Office at 720-913-9000.

In one case cited in the indictment, the victim called police to report the stolen vehicle two days after Miles towed it. Police found it two days later in an abandoned lot. Other victims are still searching for their cars.

Miles pleaded guilty to theft in 2013 in a similar case and was charged in a second new case before the grand jury began its investigation.

In that first case, Miles claimed to manage a Denver auto repair shop, took in vehicles and then, according to victims, didn't do repairs they paid for or refused to return their cars.

He is scheduled to appear in Denver District Court on Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m. for his first appearance on the indictment. He has been released from custody on $150,000 bond.

Miles played for the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons in the early 1990s.