CINCINNATI (WXIX) — A 20-year-old Oakley man is facing serious federal charges after the FBI uncovered a chop shop operation involving stolen luxury vehicles, court records reveal.
Cole Watson appeared in federal court Tuesday, charged with:
Operating a chop shop
Interstate transportation of stolen property
Aggravated identity theft
He was released on a no-cash bond with conditions and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. If convicted on all counts, Watson could face decades in federal prison.
The FBI investigation began after Fairfax Police in Hamilton County shared evidence with federal authorities on April 28, connecting Watson and two other suspects — Noah Mart, 20, and Raymond Lizak, 19, both of Terrace Park.
According to court filings, Mart and Lizak were arrested last year and currently face multiple felony charges in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, including:
Forgery
Tampering with records
Receiving stolen property
Counterfeiting
Watson, in addition to federal charges, is also facing state charges of receiving stolen property.
Federal documents allege that between September 2024 and July 3, 2025, the group stole high-end vehicles — including BMWs, a Corvette, and a Camaro — from states like Texas and transported them to Ohio. The cars were then hidden in public parking garages or in a detached garage at Watson’s Isabella Avenue residence.
There, they allegedly altered or dismantled the vehicles to either resell them or part them out, according to the affidavit.
Federal authorities say more individuals may be connected to the operation and that the investigation remains active.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 850,000 vehicles were stolen in the U.S. last year. Texas ranked 2nd, and Ohio ranked 9th in reported vehicle thefts.
