A Memphis man and his son have been nabbed for allegedly operating a chop shop that dismantled and repurposed stolen vehicles for sale. According to Action News 5, the police arrested Marvin Hilliard, Sr., 52, and his son Marvin Hilliard, Jr., 30, after discovering eight stolen cars at C&M Tow Yard on Third Street.

The duo is facing several charges, including eight counts of theft of property, violation of chop shop law, and cruelty to animals. With the vehicles found stolen from multiple counties and states, the operation stretched well beyond Memphis. Detectives executed a search warrant on December 14 at the tow yard, finding the vehicles and parts scattered across the property. Running a chop shop, three pit bulls were also found on the premises, malnourished and chained to vehicles, as noted by WREG News.

This family-run operation has been linked to car thefts totaling an estimated $374,317 from November 2020 to November 2023. In a disturbing discovery, Memphis Animal Shelter took over custody of the dogs, which lacked water, food, and adequate shelter. FenderBender reported that among the vehicles found was a red Jeep Grand Cherokee, initially white, repainted black with red stripes, and allegedly belonging to Hilliard Jr.'s girlfriend.

In a twisted touch to the criminal operations, an owner of a 2014 Chrysler 300 told officers he dropped off his car to have work done, only to have its seats replaced with those from a stolen Dodge Charger Daytona by an unknown male. Cars reported stolen out of Mississippi and other areas were missing various parts, and still not recovered. This bust has exposed a network stretching across states, tying together thefts of vehicles diligently pieced apart for profit while putting the family bond to dark use.