Authorities in Miami-Dade have uncovered a rather unsavory business on the side of a local towing company – a chop shop specializing in the disassembly of stolen vehicles. According to reports from NBC Miami, three men were arrested following the discovery of a stolen Corvette and other parts at ASAP Towing, a business that seems to have been illegally backing its legitimate facade with a less lawful enterprise.
The arrested individuals, identified as Sergio Reyes Cuevas-Pena, 56; Idalberto Roberto Valdes, 24; and Frank Christopher Bada, 34, are facing multiple charges that include operating a chop shop, grand theft of a vehicle, and possession of a vehicle with an altered identification. This operation came to light when Auto Theft Unit detectives arrived at ASAP Towing's address at 2154 Northwest 95th Street, for a routine inspection, cueing, Cuevas-Pena to attempt a swift exit — though he was promptly detained by officers.
As outlined in an article by Local10, further investigation of the premises revealed more incriminating evidence. Detectives found a white Dodge Challenger with all identifying decals neatly removed from its engine and an engine serial number that had been deliberately grinded off, a flawed attempt at obscuring the vehicle's true identity. This hardware was later confirmed to have been stolen from North Miami.
Moreover, an analysis of the shop found a tow manifest invoice with a fake address and upon searching Valdes, authorities discovered a Glock handgun, adding an additional charge of using a firearm while committing a felony to his rap sheet. The three men were initially held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, though records indicate all three had posted bond by yesterday afternoon, as conveyed by NBC Miami.
