A mechanic for the City of Miami and his son were arrested for allegedly running a chop shop after nearly $500,000 worth of stolen cars were found on their properties, authorities said.

Jose Osvaldo Mena Crespo, 55, and son Jose Yamil Mena Gonzalez, 26, were arrested Wednesday on charges including grand theft of a vehicle, organized scheme to defraud, operating a chop shop, procuring the title of a stolen vehicle, dealing in stolen property and odometer altering or tampering, records showed.

According to arrest reports, the investigation into Mena Crespo, who's employed by the City of Miami General Services Administration as a heavy-duty mechanic, and his son began in April after a Florida Highway Patrol investigator noticed "inconsistencies" in multiple vehicles seen on Mena Crespo's pr

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