“Chop shop” operator gets caught in the act, faces up to 15 years in prison for his crimes.
A St. Louis man has pleaded guilty to running a chop shop that aided car thieves connected to a local gang. Jorge Alberto Luviano-Martinez, 41, admitted to operating a chop shop in the 2900 block of Cass Avenue in St. Louis.
As part of his plea, Luviano-Martinez admitted that members of a local gang, “Big 5,” discussed obtaining electronic keys for stolen vehicles from him and switching vehicle identification numbers (VINs) on stolen vehicles.
Before the search warrant was served, investigators saw Luviano-Martinez leaving the property in a stolen Jeep. He refused to stop for police, instead leading officers on a chase that lasted about 15 minutes.
After driving down a dead-end street, Luviano-Martinez jumped out of the Jeep and over a fence, but was arrested. The investigation was conducted by the St. Louis Gateway Strike Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Luviano-Martinez, also known as “Charlie Cruz,” is scheduled to be sentenced in August. The charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both prison and a fine.
The FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are working together to bring Luviano-Martinez to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Rahulkumar D. Patel, Illegal Gambling Operation, Missouri 2024 · New York
- Samuel Douglas Hazer, Covert Sports Betting Operation, MO 2023 · Alabama
- Darrell Niswonger, Federal Charges, Missouri 2025 · Puerto Rico
- Elgin Eugene Dothage, Methamphetamine and Heroin Distribution, Missouri 2017 · Kansas
- Yovanny Aroldo Mendivil-Balderama, Murder, Missouri 2016 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
