A white 2016 Corvette that vanished from a Collierville dealership on June 29 was found gutted in a Frayser driveway on Sunday, and police say two men were caught in the middle of tearing it apart.
Memphis officers say they located the sports car in the 2100 block of Durham Avenue, where the vehicle had already been stripped of its engine, transmission, front and rear tires, front hood, front and rear fenders, front axle, radiator, seats and center console, and was declared a total loss.
The suspects were identified as 37-year-old Kevin Carter and 28-year-old Devanta Johnson. According to detectives, Carter tried to slip toward the back of the residence to avoid officers, while Johnson was taken into custody near the Corvette and a chain-link fence. The arrests and other details were reported by WREG.
Police say the property was an active chop shop
Authorities described the Durham Avenue address as an active chop shop where stolen vehicles are dismantled, and parts move quickly into resale channels. The Memphis Police Department has repeatedly prioritized shutting down such operations, calling them a major driver of auto theft in the city, a point the department outlined in prior press materials (Memphis Police Department).
What detectives recovered and the charges
Investigators said the Corvette’s VIN came back as stolen from a local Ford dealership and that the vehicle was rendered a total loss by the vandalism. Detectives reported finding hand-held drill tools commonly used to strip cars inside a 1988 Chevrolet Silverado that was registered to Carter’s father, and they say parts were being removed to sell. Carter and Johnson are charged with theft of property valued at $60,000–$250,000, felony vandalism in the same range, and violation of the state’s chop-shop law; both were listed as scheduled for arraignment Tuesday, according to WREG.
Why officers target chop shops
Police say chop shops let thieves monetize stolen vehicles fast by selling parts, which reduces recoveries and helps fuel more thefts. Local reporting and past enforcement actions have repeatedly shown similar patterns, with raids often turning up multiple stripped vehicles and engines. Action News 5 documented one such raid that recovered numerous stolen cars and parts.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives ask anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. The Memphis Police Department provides tips and contact details on its news pages for similar investigations (Memphis Police Department).
