A mechanic for the City of Miami and his son were detained for allegedly running a chop shop after roughly $500,000 in stolen cars were discovered on their properties, authorities said.
Jose Osvaldo Mena Crespo, 55, and his son Jose Yamil Mena Gonzalez, 26, were arrested Wednesday on charges of grand theft of a vehicle, organized scheme to defraud, operating a chop shop, obtaining the title of a stolen vehicle, dealing in stolen property, and odometer altering or tampering, according to records.
According to arrest reports, the investigation into Mena Crespo, a heavy-duty mechanic employed by the City of Miami General Services Administration, and his son began in April when a Florida Highway Patrol investigator noticed “inconsistencies” in several vehicles seen on Mena Crespo’s property…