BITHLO, Fla. — An Orange County man with more than two dozen convictions on his record is accused of running a chop shop.
Deputies said they were searching for a stolen work trailer from Irby Construction out of Volusia County. They pinged it and said it led them right to Russell Folmer.
The Bithlo property was raided Monday night and investigators said they found a mechanic-style toolbox and car parts strewn across the property in what appeared to be a makeshift chop shop.
"Mr. Folmer is known to us in the auto theft unit. We've dealt with him several times in the last 10 years, usually whenever we go to his property there's going to be a stolen vehicle or two," Cpl.Tim Nazarro, of the Orange County Auto Theft Unit, said.
Investigators said they found two stolen trailers from Volusia County, a stolen four-wheeler out of Orange County and another stolen vehicle from Brevard County. The foreman of the construction company said one truck was empty, but the other contained valuable equipment, including copper grounds, grips, a water pump, hydraulic drills, chain saws, cable slings, copper and a couple of heavy-duty hoists.
Investigators said they haven't recovered all the stolen property, but have recovered more than $50,000 worth of stolen property.
"He's been doing this for years and he told us last night he was doing it to fuel a drug habit, so that's what's happening locally now," Nazarro said.
Court records showed Folmer, 31, was accused of the same thing in 2009 after a SWAT team found a stolen tow truck and three other vehicles, including one from Lee County in southwest Florida, on the same property. Folmer was arrested for grand theft auto just two weeks ago.
"He's not particular and apparently he is well traveled. We also found a stolen firearm on the property from the Winter Park Police Department," Nazarro said.
As a convicted felon, Folmer is not allowed to have a firearm.
He is charged with operating a chop shop, two counts of grand theft auto and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Folmer is being held at Orange County Jail without bond.
Cox Media Group
