A quiet Riverview property turned into the center of a high-dollar car theft scandal after Hillsborough County deputies say they dismantled a multi-state stolen-car ring that funneled luxury SUVs and performance cars into a local chop shop. Investigators say the operation began in late 2025 and racked up roughly $388,000 in stolen property taken from dealerships, auctions and private buyers across Florida and neighboring states. A March raid recovered several high-end vehicles and led to the arrests.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that the suspects - Yoan Gonzalez Solorzano, 25, Javier Penate Berbe, 24, and Christien Ravi Bisnath, 31 - operated between December 2025 and March 2026 and focused on high-value targets such as GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades, then moved the cars to Hillsborough County for resale or stripping. “This operation was calculated and fueled by greed, targeting hardworking businesses and buyers across multiple communities,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the release. Deputies outlined the investigation and recovery in a press release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Surveillance footage from December 25, 2025, shows a 2021 white GMC Yukon Denali, valued at about $68,000, being scoped out on Causeway Boulevard in Tampa before it was driven off the lot, according to reporting by the Tampa Free Press. When detectives traced that Yukon to a Riverview property, they found it had different wheels and that its original custom rims had been moved to another vehicle. Deputies also recovered a Dodge Charger and several premium SUVs during the raid, investigators say.
How detectives say the ring worked
Authorities say the suspects ran stolen cars through a Riverview site where they were stripped for parts, resold or altered through fraudulent VIN swaps to hide where the vehicles came from and make them easier to resell. Detectives described a functioning chop shop where parts and VIN information were shuffled between vehicles to confuse ownership records and help the cars appear legitimate on paper. The press release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office lays out the timeline and the methods used by the suspects, and investigators say the probe is still ongoing.
What to watch for and how to protect yourself
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles urges buyers to check a vehicle's VIN before purchase and offers a Motor Vehicle Information Check that can reveal salvage, title and odometer history. Officials also recommend common precautions such as locking your car, removing keys and key fobs, parking in well-lit areas, and considering alarms or tracking systems, since stolen vehicles are often stripped for parts quickly. For local owners worried about suspicious activity, deputies encourage neighbors to report tips to law enforcement so investigators can follow up on leads promptly. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Charges and what’s next
As reported by the Tampa Free Press, Solorzano, Penate Berbe and Bisnath now face multiple felony counts, including Grand Theft and Operating a Chop Shop, while prosecutors and detectives continue to review evidence. The investigation remains active as deputies look for links to other unsolved thefts in the region and prepare potential additional filings. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office tip line.
