Stolen Mustang Stop Uncovers Drugs and Fake IDs in Hammond
A Chicago man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after Hammond police say he was found driving a stolen vehicle and in possession of fraudulent identification, documents, and MDMA.
Leonel Romero, 30, was formally charged on August 2, 2025. According to court documents, a license plate reader alerted officers to a stolen 2025 gray Ford Mustang with Texas plates entering Hammond. Officers located the vehicle at a gas station at 4450 Calumet Avenue, where Romero was detained.
Upon approaching the vehicle, officers reported detecting the strong odor of marijuana. Romero initially claimed the vehicle belonged to his boss and that he was making payments on it, but later gave conflicting statements. Officers confirmed the Mustang had been reported stolen by Ancira Ford in Floresville, Texas, through fraudulent means.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a fraudulent Texas driver’s license in the driver-side door panel, which Romero admitted was fake. During a search of Romero’s person, officers discovered a small brown tablet with Louis Vuitton engravings. A second blue tablet was later found at the jail. Both tablets field-tested positive for MDMA.
Inside the vehicle’s trunk, officers located copious fraudulent documents belonging to various other people, including financial, housing, and social security records. A second fraudulent Texas driver’s license was also recovered. Both licenses returned no record when run through the Spillman database.
He is currently lodged in the Lake County Jail.
Charges filed August 2, 2025:
• Theft (value $750 to $50,000) – Level 6 Felony
• False Government Identification – Misdemeanor A (2 counts)
• Possession of a Controlled Substance (MDMA) – Misdemeanor A
• Driving While Suspended (non-conviction suspension) – Infraction
