May 26, 2026: Former MGA Entertainment Employee Charged With Stealing Over $1 Million in Diecast Collectibles from Chatsworth Factory

Luis Tanahara is due in court May 27 for a preliminary hearing setting

LOS ANGELES - A former employee of MGA Entertainment has been charged with stealing diecast model car collectibles valued at over $1 million from the company's factory in the San Fernando Valley.

"My prosecutors do not come to play: If you steal collectible toy cars or any cargo from our ports, you will be fully prosecuted," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "Diecast cars are not everyday toys or merchandise with a set retail value, they are prized collectibles with a potentially infinite value to a collector, representing a tremendous loss for the victim. My office will continue to fight for our local businesses and hold retail thieves accountable."

Luis Tanahara (dob 5/6/71) of Simi Valley is charged in case 26CJCF02175 with one felony count of grand theft and one felony count of receiving stolen property with special allegations that he stole property valued at over $1 million.

On Feb 14, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Tanahara, while employed as a senior product designer at MGA Entertainment, allegedly stole CarTuned collectibles valued at approximately $500,000 from a shipping container at the company's Chatsworth factory and loaded the items into his personal vehicle. On March 4, investigators seized over $1 million in CarTuned collectibles from his residence. The cars are highly valued by hobbyists and collectors, especially when sold in surprise "Master Packs."

The case was filed for warrant on April 7. Tanahara was arrested and pleaded not guilty at arraignment on April 10. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from MGA Entertainment.

A preliminary hearing setting is scheduled for May 27 in Department 35 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to six years in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Jeffrey Illions of the Organized Crime Division and remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. .

The charges in this case are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.