DETROIT (WWJ) -- Two men are facing charges in connection with an auto theft and chop shop ring.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Calvin Lamont Pickett Jr., 44, of Bloomfield Hills and Fadi Abi-Fakhreddine, 58, of Ypsilanti.
It is alleged that the defendants used fraudulent paperwork to cover up the theft and crushing of stolen vehicles.
Pickett Jr. and Abi-Fakhreddine have both been charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, 12 counts of intent to pass a false title, and 12 counts of receiving and concealing a motor vehicle.
Investigation ensued after a victim reported their vehicle was stolen while at a residence in the 13800 block of Mecca Street to the Detroit Police Department on November 25, 2019
Police discovered that the car was at an auto parts store that was allegedly ran as a chop shop in the 8850 block of Schaefer Highway in Detroit, about a mile from where the vehicle had been reported stolen.
Detroit police officers also discovered fraudulent paperwork that was being used to scrap stolen vehicles on March 2.
Both defendants were arrested at the scene.
If convicted, they will each face up to 20 years in prison for conducting a criminal enterprise, 10 years for each count of intent to pass a false title and up to five years for each count of receiving and concealing stolen property.
They are expected to be arraigned Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the 36th District Court.
