MIAMI-DADE — Authorities shut down a trailer yard in Miami-Dade County after uncovering an illegal vehicle dismantling operation linked to stolen cars.
The raid occurred Tuesday morning at ASAP Towing & Recovery, located at 2154 NW 95th Street, West Little River. Detectives, conducting a routine inspection authorized by state law, caught employee Sergio Cuevas-Peña, 56, dismantling a stolen Chevrolet Corvette.
Cuevas-Peña tried to flee through a back exit but was stopped by officers. Also present was Frank Christopher Bada, 34, the facility’s manager, and Idalberto Roberto Valdés, 24, a tow truck driver who was found carrying a Glock 43X handgun, adding firearm-related charges.
Investigators discovered a Dodge Challenger with engine identification tags removed and found a motor and transmission with polished serial numbers — tactics used to hide stolen vehicle parts. These parts were linked to a reported robbery in North Miami.
All three men face multiple charges, including:
Four counts of possession of vehicles with altered identification
Two counts of automobile theft
Operating and aiding an illegal dismantling workshop
Additionally, Valdés faces charges for firearm possession during a felony
They were booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) but were released on bail by Wednesday afternoon.
Authorities continue investigating to determine if the operation was part of a larger stolen vehicle trafficking network in South Florida.
