Post by Barnaby Cuthbert on Oct 9, 2015 12:49:01 GMT -8
Police bust auto chop shop fraud ring
Rita Hayworth - KMRLD NEWS
Published Thursday, October 8th, 20158 2:55PM PST
Police in West Seattle have arrested six men and laid more than 500 charges in connection to a massive chop shop and insurance fraud racket operating out of Seattle and the West Seattle.
Five Seattle men and one from the Tacoma region were charged in connection to the theft of 100 stolen vehicles, many of which ended up back on the road after passing fraudulent structural safety inspections.
Police allege the suspects would steal vehicles and register them with vehicle identification numbers taken from cars and trucks that had been written off and purchased as salvaged parts.
PHOTOS
Police showed this BMW that had its
frame is welded together, which was part
of a massive chop shop and insurance
fraud racket operating out of West Seattle
A police officer stands beside a BMW
that was part of a massive chop shop
and insurance fraud racket operating
out of West Seattle
A police officer offers details about the
arrests made in a massive chop shop
and insurance fraud racket operating out
of West Seattle.
Police said the suspects would give the vehicles fraudulent insurance and structural certificates before putting them up for sale at used car shops.
The investigation began based on a tip from this reporter and grew in scope to include the King County police, and the Department of Transportation's enforcement unit.
"They were taking stolen vehicles," Sgt. Jim Furrows alleged on Thursday. "They were taking vehicles that had been written off in collisions and assembling the parts using the documentation of one to cover up the tracks and put these vehicles back on the road.
"Members of the public are buying these vehicles, and they are not ‘too good to be true' prices. They are situations where you believe you are getting a valid vehicle. Before you purchase anything of this nature from a used vehicle supplier of any time, it is an excellent idea … to have it inspected."
The Washington State Motor Vehicle Council is available to assist anyone who believes they may be a victim of such a crime, Furrows said.
Auto theft costs Americans an estimated $1 billion every year, according to the U.S. Insurance Bureau. An average of 420 vehicles is stolen across the country every day.
Police say several search warrants were executed on a West Seattle auto body shop named Auto Vato this week.
Seattle police recovered more than 60 stolen chopped vehicles and more than 200 high-end vehicles that had been surgically stripped of their components.
Horace Estevez, 42, of Seattle-on-the-Water, was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and two counts of fraud over $5,000.
On Wednesday, Estevez was charged with more offenses, including 10 counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, three counts of fraud over $5,000 and breach of recognizance.
Seattle police have charged another five men in connection to the investigation, many of them owners and operators of local body shops.
Shawn Ramirez, 51, owner of West Town Collision, was charged with 52 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 52 counts of uttering forged documents.
George Ruiz, 53, of Seattle, was charged with 125 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 125 counts of uttering forged documents.
Osvaldo Savia, 57, the operator of Vato Auto Care Centre, was charged with 73 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 73 counts of uttering forged documents.
David Gutierrez, 33, the owner of Del Sol Collision, was charged with property obtained by crime over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and two counts of uttering forged documents.
Hime Ramon, 39, of Seattle, was charged with seven counts of property obtained by crime and three of counts of uttering forged documents.
All five Seattle men were scheduled to appear in court next Thursday.
Rita Hayworth - KMRLD NEWS
Published Thursday, October 8th, 20158 2:55PM PST
Police in West Seattle have arrested six men and laid more than 500 charges in connection to a massive chop shop and insurance fraud racket operating out of Seattle and the West Seattle.
Five Seattle men and one from the Tacoma region were charged in connection to the theft of 100 stolen vehicles, many of which ended up back on the road after passing fraudulent structural safety inspections.
Police allege the suspects would steal vehicles and register them with vehicle identification numbers taken from cars and trucks that had been written off and purchased as salvaged parts.
PHOTOS
Police showed this BMW that had its
frame is welded together, which was part
of a massive chop shop and insurance
fraud racket operating out of West Seattle

A police officer stands beside a BMW
that was part of a massive chop shop
and insurance fraud racket operating
out of West Seattle

A police officer offers details about the
arrests made in a massive chop shop
and insurance fraud racket operating out
of West Seattle.
Police said the suspects would give the vehicles fraudulent insurance and structural certificates before putting them up for sale at used car shops.
The investigation began based on a tip from this reporter and grew in scope to include the King County police, and the Department of Transportation's enforcement unit.
"They were taking stolen vehicles," Sgt. Jim Furrows alleged on Thursday. "They were taking vehicles that had been written off in collisions and assembling the parts using the documentation of one to cover up the tracks and put these vehicles back on the road.
"Members of the public are buying these vehicles, and they are not ‘too good to be true' prices. They are situations where you believe you are getting a valid vehicle. Before you purchase anything of this nature from a used vehicle supplier of any time, it is an excellent idea … to have it inspected."
The Washington State Motor Vehicle Council is available to assist anyone who believes they may be a victim of such a crime, Furrows said.
Auto theft costs Americans an estimated $1 billion every year, according to the U.S. Insurance Bureau. An average of 420 vehicles is stolen across the country every day.
Police say several search warrants were executed on a West Seattle auto body shop named Auto Vato this week.
Seattle police recovered more than 60 stolen chopped vehicles and more than 200 high-end vehicles that had been surgically stripped of their components.
Horace Estevez, 42, of Seattle-on-the-Water, was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and two counts of fraud over $5,000.
On Wednesday, Estevez was charged with more offenses, including 10 counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, three counts of fraud over $5,000 and breach of recognizance.
Seattle police have charged another five men in connection to the investigation, many of them owners and operators of local body shops.
Shawn Ramirez, 51, owner of West Town Collision, was charged with 52 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 52 counts of uttering forged documents.
George Ruiz, 53, of Seattle, was charged with 125 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 125 counts of uttering forged documents.
Osvaldo Savia, 57, the operator of Vato Auto Care Centre, was charged with 73 counts of fraud under $5,000 and 73 counts of uttering forged documents.
David Gutierrez, 33, the owner of Del Sol Collision, was charged with property obtained by crime over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and two counts of uttering forged documents.
Hime Ramon, 39, of Seattle, was charged with seven counts of property obtained by crime and three of counts of uttering forged documents.
All five Seattle men were scheduled to appear in court next Thursday.