A workshop owner is heading to prison. Justice authorities sentenced him to a year behind bars. His crime? Running a hidden operation that turned stolen vehicles into seemingly legitimate cars for sale. This man also had a past record involving ammunition trafficking, making his recent conviction even more serious.
The investigation into this illicit business began with a violent carjacking. Just last week, a woman was terrorized in the Paso Molino area. Criminals held her at gunpoint, forcing her to hand over her van. This single act of violence set off a chain of events for law enforcement.
Detectives from the Automotive Crimes Brigade quickly took the case. Specifically, the Analysis and Intelligence area began piecing things together. They carefully reviewed surveillance cameras. These cameras showed the thieves fleeing the scene and heading towards the 17 de Junio neighborhood. Following this lead, officers started watching certain areas. Their close watch soon pointed to a particular mechanical workshop.
Investigators confirmed the stolen van was indeed inside this workshop. But there was more. The site served as a storage hub for many stolen vehicles. These cars arrived there to be changed and disguised. Often, their license plates were swapped to hide their true origins. Armed with this information, the police conducted a raid. They arrested the workshop owner on the spot.
During the raid, officers found the stolen van and another vehicle that had already been altered. They also seized a collection of different license plates and vehicle registration booklets. These items are currently being examined as part of the ongoing investigation. On top of that, police found ammunition cartridges and several cell phones. Given his prior record, the ammunition discovery was particularly telling.
The workshop owner now faces serious consequences for his actions. He was found guilty of two counts of especially aggravated receiving stolen goods. He also faced a charge for internal ammunition trafficking. These convictions led to his one-year prison sentence.