Whitley man admits to role in chop shop operation; to be sentenced in Oct.

A Whitley County man has pleaded guilty to his role in a chop shop operation in 2009 that federal authorities estimate was responsible for the theft of around $484,000 worth of vehicles and parts.

Brian M. Irvin reached a plea agreement with prosecutors last week and has admitted to one count of being an “accessory after the fact” for knowingly receiving and hiding stolen vehicles and portions of vehicles on his property.

In return for his plea, prosecutors have agreed to drop charges in a related case where he was accused of running a chop shop operation with co-defendants Kevin Allen Davis (aka Chico), Jesse Richardson Jr., John Everett Carr (aka Johnny) and Floyd Shelton Jr.

As part of the plea, Irvin admits that in Oct. 2009, Shelton brought a 2004 Freightliner truck that had been stolen on Sept. 11 in Atlanta, valued at $55,000 to his property. He knew after the fact it was stolen, but did not alert authorities and helped hide the vehicle.

Shelton also brought Irvin a John Deere backhoe, valued at $40,000, which had been stolen in late Sept. from Knoxville, Tenn.

In the initial indictment against Irvin, and others, federal authorities listed a total of 31 vehicles discovered as part of the chop shop, which operated in Whitley and McCreary Counties. Irvin is blamed for roughly $95,000 in monetary losses to victims of the thefts and will be expected to pay restitution after he is formally sentenced.

Irvin could receive up to five years in prison and a fine of $125,000.

Irvin pleaded guilty to the charge last Thursday in U.S. District Court in London. He will be formally sentenced on Oct. 2 by Judge Gregory F. VanTatenhove.

He is free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.