Busted For Selling Stolen Auto Parts
A Far Rockaway man has been charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and other charges for allegedly running a fully operational chop shop in his backyard.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Arthur Jordan, 41, of Chandler Street in Far Rockaway. Jordan was arraigned last Wednesday night, Apr. 18, in Queens Criminal Court in Kew Gardens on a criminal complaint charging him with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree auto stripping, fourthdegree criminal possession of stolen property, illegal possession of a vehicle identification number, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and with violating vehicle traffic law (VTL) 415-A (1) vehicle dismantlers/others engaged in transfer/ disposal of junk/salvage vehicles.
The suspect was ordered held on $20,000 bail and to return to court on May 2. Jordan faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
“The defendant is accused of posthey sessing parts of at least four stolen vehicles. His alleged actions left the true owners of the vehicles without the use of their lawful property,” Brown said. “Furthermore, a setup such as this in a residential area has a negative effect on his neighbors’ quality of life. This case should serve as a warning to the defendant and others that auto crimes will not be tolerated in Queens County.”
According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 4 at approximately 9:50 p.m., at Jordan’s home, an undercover police officer purchased a transmission for a Honda Civic from the defendant for $350. Furthermore, it is alleged, on Jan. 20 at approximately 2:40 p.m., an undercover police officer purchased an engine for a Honda Civic from Jordan for approximately $800.
Last Tuesday, Apr. 17, police reportedly executed a search warrant at Jordan’s home, where they observed a 2010 two-door Honda Civic without an engine, a transmission, front bumper or doors. The vehicle identification number of the items purchased by the undercover officers matched the vehicle identification numbers of the parts found at the location.
All of the parts were then matched to a 2010 Honda Civic which was reported stolen on Nov. 20, 2010. Officers executing a search warrant also observed various parts of three other vehicles that had been reported stolen including a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, a 1989 BMW 325i and a 2006 Honda Ridgeline, the criminal complaint noted.
Finally, according to the charges, police also found various items at the location known to be used by chop shop operators including a vehicle lift, mechanics tools, and a pin stamp dye kit (which are commonly used to change the identification number of vehicle engines).
The investigation was conducted by P.O. Daniel Gallagher and Sgt. Peter Hsieh, of the NYPD Auto Crime Division, under the supervision of Lt. Christopher Willis and Deputy Inspector Joseph Kenny.
Assistant District Attorney Brian E. Kohm of the District Attorney’s Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Mary M. Lowenburg, chief of the Auto Crime and Insurance Fraud Unit, Gerard A. Brave, bureau chief, Mark L. Katz, deputy bureau chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigation Linda M. Cantoni.
It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
