June 26, 2025 - Harrisburg, PA
Attorney General Dave Sunday and the Pennsylvania State Police announced charges against numerous individuals regarding a central Pennsylvania-based "chop shop" operation that also involved vehicle title washing, fraudulent vehicle inspections, and identity theft.The Office of Attorney General and state police investigation also involved presentments from the 52nd Statewide Investigating Grand Jury regarding two collaborating criminal enterprises: - Angel Vidal and his "chop shop" location in Lebanon - El Fuerte Auto Sales and El Fuerte Tire & Auto (both in Lebanon), which were run by defendants Yonathan Peguero-Rodriguez and Johandeiry Bonilla.In all, 15 individuals and the two El Fuerte business entities were charged in recent days with numerous offenses, including, but not limited to, corrupt organizations, insurance fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, and forgery.Investigators allege the criminal organizations profited well over half a million dollars and that many Pennsylvanians were impacted, either by having their identities stolen, unknowingly buying vehicles from the "chop shop," or encountering on roadways vehicles that were not property inspected."This complex scheme involved many different types of criminal behavior that directly victimized Pennsylvanians, or put drivers and passengers at risk by being in the path of vehicles that may have been unsafe," Attorney General Sunday said. "I commend the investigators from our Insurance Fraud and Organized Crime sections, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police, for unraveling these convoluted criminal enterprises and bringing charges that bring them to a halt."Speaker List:Attorney General Dave SundayChief Deputy Attorney General Rob LabarCaptain James A. Reinard, Pennsylvania State Police
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