Man gets two years in prison for operating "chop shop"

Man gets two years for operating chop shop

A former Miner city alderman was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for operating a chop shop that resold auto parts from stolen vehicles, U.S. Attorney James Martin said. Tom W. Brock, 63, of Miner, pleaded guilty in May to seven federal charges, including operating a chop shop and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution of $49,000. Brock operated Brock's Auto Salvage in New Madrid County. During a routine inspection in February 2003, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other agencies seized a gun, ammunition and several auto parts from stolen vehicles. Brock had previously been convicted in 1990 of possession and sales of vehicles with altered ID numbers.