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14 people arrested in car theft ring, chop shop operations run out of Paterson | Paterson Times

14 people arrested in car theft ring, chop shop operations run out of Paterson

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Fourteen people were arrested for allegedly running chop shop operations that involved the theft of more than 35 vehicles across New Jersey, authorities said on Friday.

Carlos Torres, 41; Juan Torres, 20; Ranlley Tejada-Pena, 35; Junior Lopez, 22; Adonis DeJesus Ventura Liranzo, 25; Wilson Castro, 46; Juan M. Jimenez-Gutierrez, 48; Freddy Tavare, 43; Edward Fernandez, 55; Juan Sterling Jimenez Gutierrez, 44; and Danilo A. Camilo, 26, all of Paterson, were arrested on various charges

Others arrested were Heriberto A. Rojas-Acquino, 25, of Elmwood Park; Edward M. Valdez-Nunez, 42, of Elmwood Park; and Yoelbi Velez, 34, of Passaic were charged.

A five-month investigation led by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), in collaboration with the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, and Paterson Police Department, resulted in charges against the 14 people. The charges are connected to four chop shops that masqueraded as towing and mechanic businesses by day but engaged in illegal activities, including altering and disassembling stolen vehicles for resale or parts, outside regular business hours, authorities said.

“Auto theft is known to go hand-in-hand with other more serious crimes, which is why dismantling these criminal networks and prosecuting participants is essential to our goal of reducing theft and violent crime in New Jersey,” said Attorney General Matthew Platkin. “By taking down chop shops that facilitate the sale of stolen vehicles, we’re interrupting the larger auto theft network and making our communities safer.”

Law enforcement conducted coordinated raids in Paterson, Elmwood Park, and Passaic City on May 23. The searches yielded significant evidence, including six stolen motor vehicles, stolen vehicle components, key fobs, stolen license plates, electronic devices associated with chop shop operations, an assault rifle, heroin, marijuana, a kilo press used in processing illegal drugs, and suspected cash proceeds from criminal activity.

“The dismantling of this auto theft ring and the identification of its chop shops is just a small step in our unrelenting mission to apprehend and hold accountable those who choose to steal motor vehicles and those who participate in the criminal process after a vehicle is stolen,” said Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “This 5-month long investigation culminated with the removal of an assault weapon, drugs, and violent criminals from our neighborhoods.”

Carlos Torres was identified as the mastermind behind the chop shop operations, authorities said.

In January, state police detectives investigated statewide thefts of Hondas destined for chop shops in Paterson. They identified Carlos Torres and others who stole vehicles from counties throughout the state, transported them to Paterson, gave them fraudulent VINs, and sold or disassembled them. Carlos Torres alone was tied to the theft of a dozen vehicles, authorities said.

“Our message is clear, if you are caught participating in crimes related to auto theft, you will face serious consequences,” said Derek Nececkas, interim director of the Division of Criminal Justice.

The suspects were transported to the State Police Auto Theft Task Force’s Newark Field Office for processing and released.

Full list of those arrested and charges against them are below:

Carlos Torres, 41, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree (two counts)
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Juan Torres, 20, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Uttering of False Government Documents – 3rd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Ranlley Tejada-Pena, 35, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree
Uttering False Government Documents – 3rd Degree

Junior Lopez, 22, of Paterson, NJ
Possession of CDS (Heroin) – 3rd Degree
Distribution of CDS (Heroin) – 2nd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine – 4th Degree
Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm – 2nd Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Used for CDS Packaging – 4th Degree

Adonis DeJesus Ventura Liranzo, 25, of Paterson, NJ
Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance – Heroin – 3rd Degree
Distribution of CDS (Heroin) – 2nd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine – 4th Degree
Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm – 2nd Degree
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Used for CDS Packaging – 4th Degree

Heriberto A. Rojas-Acquino, 25, of Elmwood Park, NJ
Operation of a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree

Juan M. Jimenez-Gutierrez, 48, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 2nd Degree
Operation of a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Edward M. Valdez-Nunez, 42, of Elmwood Park, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree

Yoelbi Velez, 34, of Passaic, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree
Possession of Burglar’s Tools – Disorderly Persons Offense
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Uttering of False Government Documents – 3rd Degree

Wilson Castro, 46, of Paterson, NJ
Operation of a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree

Danilo A. Camilo, 26, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Operation a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Freddy Tavare, 43, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Operation a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Edward Fernandez, 55, of Paterson, NJ
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Operation a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Conspiracy to Operate a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree

Juan Sterling Jimenez Gutierrez, 44, of Paterson, NJ
Operation of a Chop Shop – 2nd Degree
Receiving Stolen Property – 3rd Degree
Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle – 3rd Degree.

  • aLdo

    deport them all

  • John

    Sad part is all if them have already been released and not one of them will be deported.

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