Columbus Woman Sentenced for Chop Shop Ring

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a stunning revelation from the U.S. District Court in Columbus, Tina Imes, 41, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for her role in an extensive chop shop conspiracy that involved the theft of over 35 vehicles.

Imes was one of several individuals who, along with her husband James A. Imes, 51, and others, systematically stole cars to dismantle and sell their parts, earning more than $500,000 from their illegal activities. Her husband received a sentence of 120 months for his involvement in the scheme.

According to court documents, the operation ran from January 2013 until April 2014, with vehicles being stolen and disassembled at chop shops located on the West side of Columbus. They sold parts through various means, including Craigslist ads across multiple states, leading to significant weekly earnings of $10,000 to $15,000.

One particularly brazen act involved registering a stolen truck from Buckeye Ford in London, Ohio, under their minor son’s name, with fraudulent VIN and title details attached. The majority of the stolen vehicles were sold as parts or scrap to local salvage yards, while more valuable components found their way onto online marketplaces.

During the dismantling process, HCFC refrigerant chemicals were released into the atmosphere when air conditioning tubes were cut, posing a significant environmental concern.

Imes initially feigned ignorance during an October 2018 conversation with U.S. Marshals about her husband’s pending arrest warrant, claiming they were planning to divorce and that he had fled to Kentucky. However, she was actually supplying him with necessities at an apartment in Columbus. She pleaded guilty in February 2019.

The sentence was announced by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham, with United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David M. DeVillers, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and Ohio EPA Director Laurie A. Stevenson present. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey and J. Michael Marous are representing the government in this case.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Ohio EPA Special Investigations Unit, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police Auto Theft Unit, and Ohio State Highway Patrol Theft and Fraud Unit.

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