Multi-state vehicle chop shop broken up

A Denver man has been arrested on suspicion of running a massive chop shop in Weld County that involved more than $300,000 in stolen vehicles from Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Kevin Abelbert Chavez, 29, was arrested Wednesday for investigation of 22 felonies including 11 counts of motor vehicle theft, according to a Weld County sheriff’s news release.

He is being held at the Weld County Jail.

An investigation began in January when Chavez’s ex-wife contacted authorities, the news release said.

She told investigators that Chavez was making hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from the chop shop, but she and her children were awarded no support money from the divorce because it was a criminal enterprise. She knew of stolen pickups, all-terrain vehicles, trailers and utility vehicles.

On Feb. 10, investigators encountered Chavez allegedly driving a stolen vehicle on U.S. 85 near Fort Lupton. Chavez fled, and investigators did not chase him because of public safety traffic concerns.

Last week, investigators seized several stolen vehicles, including two pickups and three ATVs, bringing total seizures from the long, ongoing investigation to more than $300,000, the sheriff’s office said.

Weapons also were seized. Other members of the chop shop and stolen vehicle ring, as well as some victims, have been identified by investigators, according to the news release.