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Tampa Police: Sting Nets Tow Operators Illegally Buying Cars

News Channel 8 photo by JIM FARQUHAR

Roger Phillips is taken into custody during the sting operation. Police were targeting tow truck operators who illegally buy cars to sell for scrap.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 8, 2008

Updated: 08/08/2008 05:56 pm

TAMPA - Police conducted an operation today targeting tow truck drivers who illegally buy vehicles to sell for scrap.

During the sting, an undercover officer pretended to sell a 1989 Ford F-150 owned by a brother he said was in jail. The undercover officer said he wanted to sell the truck to make money. Because the seller didn't own the vehicle, Detective Bob Baxter said, it was against the law for tow truck companies to buy it.

Police called three companies to come to the vehicle in the Sulphur Springs area. All three parties purchased the vehicle and were arrested, officers say.

"We were having a problem with cars getting reported stolen, where once everything was said and done, they were towed by companies to a scrap yard and shredded," Baxter said. "It's kind of a cottage industry with unscrupulous wrecker drivers."

He said the scrap metal business is popular, with scrap companies paying about 12 cents a pound for vehicles, which can tip the scale at 4,000 pounds or so.

"They're salivating when they see these things," he said of the tow companies.

Arrested, Baxter said, were:

•Richard Meyer, 22, of Tampa, of Tommy's Towing & Recovery, 7277 Nebraska Ave. He paid $125 for the vehicle.

•Oswaldo Viera, 44, of Wesley Chapel, and his son, Yunier Viera, 28, of Lutz, of AMZ Towing, address unavailable. They paid $200 for the vehicle.

•Sherry Phillips, 31, and Roger Phillips, 34, both of Apollo Beach, who paid $200 for the vehicle. They were private contractors using a wrecker rented from Evans Auto Brokers.

Sherry Phillips told officers, "I haven't done anything wrong."

Baxter said it would not have been illegal for the companies to buy the vehicle if the seller said they owned it but lost the title.

"They are arresting me for no reason, for doing my job," said Yunier Viera, part owner of AMZ towing.

When told it was illegal to buy a vehicle from someone who admitted to not owning it, Viera said, "It's the first time I'm hearing about this."

Baxter said the people who were arrested will be charged with auto theft and scheming to defraud. Oswaldo Viera said he had medical issues and was not transported to jail, but charges will be filed against him, Baxter said.

He said officers targeted tow truck drivers after getting a tip from a man who was being arrested. Tyrone Jones told police he had sold other people's vehicles 10 times in the past few months to tow truck operators.

The companies that officers contacted during the operation were ones Jones mentioned or companies that had advertised on the Internet that they buy junk cars and don't need keys, Baxter said.

He said this has been a significant problem in Tampa. About 50 cars have been taken in Sulphur Springs and surrounding areas this year in this fashion, Baxter said.

Baxter said the problem isn't limited to Sulphur Springs. Two vehicles were taken in New Tampa in the past month, he said.

Asked whether police are going to investigate illegal activity at scrap metal companies, Baxter said, "That will be step two."

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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