14 Charged In North Jersey 'Chop Shop' Raids, Accused Of Stealing 30+ Vehicles: AG

PASSAIC CO., NJ — State officials charged 14 people in a multi-county raid of four alleged "chop shops," and linked them to the theft of more than 35 vehicles throughout New Jersey according to Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.

The accused people were charged after raids in Paterson, Elmwood Park, and Passaic, Platkin said on June 2. The four chop shops operated as towing and mechanic businesses during the day, but officials allege the employees used the shops to alter or disassemble stolen vehicles during off hours.

New Jersey State Police conducted the five-month investigation with assistance from the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the Paterson Police Department, and other federal, county, and local law enforcement agencies according to Platkin.

The raids took place the week of April 23, and officials said they recovered six stolen motor vehicles and a number of components from stolen vehicles, as well as key fobs and license plates.

Officials also seized an assault rifle, heroin, marijuana, and a kilo press (which "is commonly used to process controlled dangerous substances"), as well as cash according to Platkin.

Officials allege that 41-year-old Carlos Torres of Paterson was the ringleader of the operations. The 13 other people charged have addresses in Paterson, Passaic, and Elmwood Park according to Platkin's office.

“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 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.”

Col. Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the NJ State Police, said dismantling this auto theft ring and identifying the 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."

“This 5-month long investigation culminated with the removal of an assault weapon, drugs, and violent criminals from our neighborhoods," Callahan continued. "Motor Vehicle Crimes Units and their partners are using the finest investigative strategies to target additional theft rings, and I applaud their continued efforts.”

Below are all the people charged in the chop shop investigation, according to Platkin's office:

• 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

• 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

• Receiving Stolen Property - 3rd Degree
• Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle - 3rd Degree
• Uttering False Government Documents - 3rd Degree

Junior Lopez, 22, of Paterson:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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:

• 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:

• Receiving Stolen Property - 3rd Degree
• Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle - 3rd Degree

Yoelbi Velez, 34, of Passaic:

• 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:

• 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:
• Receiving Stolen Property - 3rd Degree
• Operation of a Chop Shop - 2nd Degree

• Receiving Stolen Property - 3rd Degree
• Operation of a Chop Shop - 2nd Degree

• 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

• Operation of a Chop Shop - 2nd Degree
• Receiving Stolen Property - 3rd Degree
• Possession of an Altered VIN Vehicle - 3rd Degree