Tracy, CA – California’s finest flexed their muscle this week, busting a major chop shop operation fingered for dismantling and selling parts from stolen high-end American sports cars. The raid, conducted by the CHP’s San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force, netted a whopping $600,000 haul of pilfered rides!
Here’s the lowdown:
- The CHP’s San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force raided a suspected chop shop in Banta, a sleepy town east of Tracy on March 11, 2024.
- The stash? A whopping 12 stolen vehicles, including 10 Chevrolet Camaros and a cool two Corvettes.
- On top of the full rides, investigators found a treasure trove of stolen car parts – doors, hoods, you name it!
- The parts and vehicles were linked to theft reports across multiple counties, stretching from San Francisco all the way to Stanislaus County.
Three dudes were initially arrested:
- James Phelan and Harley Davidson (sounds like a bad 80s cop show!) were nabbed on the spot and slapped with charges of running a chop shop and possession of stolen vehicles.
- Hamdy Naim Jamali of Manteca joined the party later that day, accused of selling stolen parts and rocking a suspicious key fob.
But wait, there’s more!
The bust kept snowballing. By Wednesday, a fourth suspect, Lloyd Thomas Bernhard of Tracy, was arrested for his alleged role in the ring. He faces similar charges to the others, with the added bonus of possession of suspected fentanyl pills.
San Joaquin Superior Court records also show a fifth suspect, Stephanie Celeste Tejada Otero, getting caught up in the dragnet.
This massive bust highlights the ongoing battle against car theft rings. With a coordinated effort, law enforcement can dismantle these operations and return stolen rides to their rightful owners. So, if you own a sweet American muscle car, keep an extra eye on it – these thieves might have a hankering for your ride!
