The streets of Houston are buzzing, not with traffic, but with a criminal enterprise after authorities clamped down on a sophisticated chop shop operation, arresting several individuals including a convicted felon who has repeatedly escaped prolonged jail time despite his rap sheet. Rene Castro, 38, with a soft spot in the bail system that keeps him out of bars—is now facing his sixth violation, after leading an alleged theft ring responsible for pilfering vehicles amounting to a hefty sum of $400,000.
Castro, previously caged for seven felony convictions in Val Verde County was back to his old tricks—according to Fox26 Houston—operating a chop shop that specialized in disassembling stolen vehicles for parts, or 're-VINning' them to sell. "He has people hired by him to send out there to get specific vehicles," stated Ray Hunt, Executive Director of the Houston Police Officers Union. The bond violations and multiple criminal charges seemed to have little effect on Castro's confinement status as he continued his operations with seemingly little to discourage him.
In a synchronistic sting, the Katy Police Department, spurred into action by the theft of a Texas Ranger's personal vehicle discovered the ring's base at 911 Hodgkins St. The heist was part of a trend that has seen auto thefts leap 13% from the previous year, with Houston averaging 392 stolen cars a week as per the ABC13 Neighborhood Safety Tracker. The alleged chop shop managed to capture the attention of local authorities, leading to the broader bust and arrests. Even so, official comment remains tight-lipped, citing an ongoing investigation.
In the latest chapter of legal leniency for Castro, the 180th Criminal District Judge DeSean Jones, allowed him to waft through the courthouse doors once more—free on bond—despite a glaring history of bond breaches. "He's out on a $750,000 bond, but the judge waived the fee for his ankle monitor, because he couldn't afford it, ridiculous," Fox26 Houston reported Ray Hunt saying. This legal back-and-forth has assaulted the sensibilities of many who follow the local crime scene with a mixture of incredulity and frustration.
It would seem that not even family ties or a shared criminal charge can keep a Castro behind bars. Nathan Rene Castro, the 38-year-old's 21-year-old son, remains in custody on a $100,000 bond, for his part in the alleged family business of shuffling stolen goods—a stark juxtaposition to his father's mobility. The fate of the other members of this chop shop syndicate rests in the balance, as the wheels of justice continue to turn in Harris County.
