MEMPHIS, Tennessee — One of the people arrested in a chop shop bust in Memphis has reached a plea deal in the case.
This comes after some of the charges have been dismissed against those charged by police after stolen cars were found on a residence in the Berclair neighborhood, according to Memphis police and an affidavit from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Johnnie Davis, 65, originally faced several charges including theft of property valued at $10,000 to $60,000, forgery of auto titles or plates and being convicted felon in possession of a handgun. He posted bail on Sept. 6 after it was lowered to $40,000. He was later indicted on charges of theft, attempted theft, and attempted drug possession with intent to sell. According to court records, on April 8, 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to the indicted charges and was sentenced to six years suspended for each of the theft charges, and three years suspended for the drug charge.
Drug charges were dismissed against a 22-year-old April 9, 2024.
Drug and weapons charges against a third person were dismissed Jan. 10, 2024.
An affidavit from the Shelby County Court records states that a Ruger LCP handgun was reported stolen to Memphis police on Aug. 4 2020.
The affidavit stated that various cars related to this incident were reported stolen to MPD in 2023; a red 2015 Dodge Challenger on July 25, an orange 2019 Dodge Charger on Aug. 1, a red 1968 Ford Mustang on Aug. 3 and a red 2020 Infiniti on Aug. 22.
On Aug. 27 officers were called to 960 Sumter Street after they were told that Sirius XM received an SOS notification from that location and a victim's stolen Infiniti Q60, according to the affidavit.
Homeowner Johnnie Davis told officers they could search the back of the property, according to the affidavit. The tag on a red Ford Mustang and a red Infiniti came back as stolen, according to the affidavit.
Because the search results of those two vehicles and engine parts laying around the backyard, police then called auto theft task force detectives to help with the case, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states that these detectives found an orange Dodge Charger with a fraudulent "VIN" number. The real number showed the car to be stolen, according to the affidavit.
A Dodge Challenger that had been spray painted also had a fraudulent VIN, which was found to be stolen once the real number was searched, according to the affidavit.
A search warrant was executed on the home and a Ruger LCP that came back as stolen was found, according to the affidavit. A small amount of marijuana was also found by detectives, according to the affidavit. Davis told police that was his bedroom, according to the affidavit.
Officers looked through the house and located a 22-year-old, who was immediately detained, according to the affidavit.
A crystal-like substance as well as Adderall pills not in a prescription bottle were found in the bedroom she was found in, according to the affidavit.
This crystal-like substance later tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the affidavit.
A black bag with the 22-year-old's ID and a large amount of money was found by a detective, according to the affidavit. Another small amount of marijuana was found with oxycodone pills, according to the affidavit.
Four digital scales were found and three bottles of promethazine syrup were found in the house, according to the affidavit. No one claimed ownership of the narcotics, according to MPD.
Davis waived his Miranda rights, giving a statement to knowing that there were stolen cars in his backyard. He told authorities that his son's friends "Cesar" and "Chris" brought stolen cars to keep them there, according to the affidavit.
Davis admitted to being a felon, pleading guilty of aggravated assault in November of 2000 and serving two years of confinement in the Shelby County Correctional Center.
He "admitted to" the two handguns found in his bedroom, according to the affidavit.
He was then transported to 201 Poplar, according to the affidavit.
