Indictment: Topeka Man Ran Auto Chop Shop

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Kansas
24 August 2016
[Non-automotive content removed.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TOPEKA, KAN. - A Topeka man was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of operating a chop shop trafficking in stolen auto parts, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Maurice L. Stewart, 39, who is in federal custody, is charged with one count of operating a chop shop and two counts of trafficking in stolen auto parts. The indictment alleges Stewart’s operation at 13th and Madison in Topeka received stolen autos and disassembled them for sale as parts.

The indictment alleges that while the crimes occurred Stewart was on conditional release on another federal indictment charging him with tax fraud and wire fraud.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the charge of operating a chop shop, and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the trafficking charges. A task force including the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Department of Revenue – Office of Special Investigation, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway is prosecuting.