August 15, 09

NEWS / Two Men Sentenced for $1 Million Stolen Vehicle, Chop Shop Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, MO—Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man and a Raytown, Mo., man were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to steal a number of vehicles, which were disassembled at several chop shops and the parts sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Darin L. Yohe, 39, of Kansas City, and David L. Reiff, 42, of Raytown, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner this morning. Yohe was sentenced to six years and five months federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Yohe to pay $88,670 in restitution. Reiff was sentenced to two years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Reiff to pay $8,900 in restitution.

Yohe and Reiff each pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to transport and sell stolen vehicles and stolen vehicle parts across state lines from March 13, 2004, to Aug. 26, 2007. Conspirators stole more than 50 trucks, cars, trailers, construction equipment and motorcycles valued at over $1 million and transported them across state lines for the purpose of “chopping” the vehicles up and selling the parts or trading them for illegal drugs. They operated several chop shops in Missouri and Kansas where the vehicles were taken after they were stolen, ! including Action Radiator in Kansas City, Kan., which was owned by Reif.

Members of the conspiracy sold the vehicle parts to local customers and to out-of-state customers on eBay.

Some of the vehicles were transported across state lines. The other vehicles were taken to chop shops in the same state. The other chop shops were located at the following addresses: Don’s Mobile Welding in Kansas City, Mo., 5139 Booth in Kansas City, Mo., 607 S.W. State Highway 7 in Blue Springs, Mo., and 8402 Cernech Rd. in Kansas City, Kan.

In addition to the conspiracy, Yohe pleaded guilty to the sale or receipt of stolen vehicles and to transporting a stolen vehicle.

http://kansascity.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/kc081309a.htm