Pair Accused of Running Vehicle Theft Business

Two men were being held in County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond each after being arrested for operating what authorities said was a chop shop that processed $500,000 worth of stolen vehicles and boats.

John Robert Meli, 27, of Monrovia, and William Thomas Trader, 22, of Arcadia, both charged with grand theft, pleaded not guilty last week in Alhambra Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Investigators have contacted 15 of 30 victims from Arcadia, Duarte, La Verne, Monrovia, Pasadena and North Hollywood.

The suspects are accused of buying some vehicles and boats and stealing others, then removing identification numbers and selling the parts over several months early this year.

Lawyers for both men could not be reached for comment.

Temple City sheriff’s Detective Robert Hernandez said deputies uncovered the crimes after a man saw his stolen custom-built jet-ski trailer in the front yard of the Temple City home of Meli’s mother on April 8.

The victim, whom Hernandez declined to identify, notified authorities, who went to the home. Meli’s mother gave deputies the address to her son’s home and warehouse in Monrovia, Hernandez said.

Inside, deputies found stolen vehicles, parts and paperwork for rental of another building on Peck Road in Arcadia, where they found additional stolen property, Hernandez said.

In all, deputies found seven Jeeps, six trailers, a pickup truck, a boat, tractor, two jet skis and an off-road vehicle, valued at more than $500,000.

One of the vehicles that was stolen belonged to Meli’s grandmother, Hernandez said. He said the suspect took apart his grandmother’s 1985 Honda Accord and replaced it with a 1989 Honda Civic.

“His grandmother didn’t like Civics, so he put an Accord sticker on it,” Hernandez said.