UPDATE: Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Eastern KY "Chop Shop"
UPDATE: Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Eastern KY "Chop Shop" Save Email Print
Posted: 2:07 PM Mar 25, 2009
Last Updated: 2:07 PM Mar 25, 2009
Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

A | A | A

UPDATE: Wednesday 3/25
LONDON, KY (WSAZ) -- A second Floyd County man has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a chop shop operation in Pike and Floyd counties.

Gary Keathley of Betsy Layne pleaded guilty to 13-counts during a hearing last week in U.S. District Court in London, KY

Keathley was originally indicted on 104 counts back in July 2008. He is set to be sentenced in July

Back in October, co-defendant, Marty Keith Hamilton of Betsy Layne , pleaded guilty to his role in the operation. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July

ORIGINAL STORY: October 2,2008
LONDON, KY (WSAZ) -- An automobile detail specialist pleaded guilty Thursday to owning and operating a “chop shop” in Floyd and Pike Counties.

50-year old Marty Keith Hamilton of Betsy Lane entered the plea in U.S. District Court in London, Ky.

Prosecutors say Hamilton, a contract employee for a local dealership, admitted that from February 2001 to August 2007 he stole approximately 60 vehicles. Hamilton stated in his plea that he kept duplicate keys from the cars brought to his garage for detailing, or used a key-cutting machine to create an extra key for himself.

Hamilton then placed a sticker with the dealership’s logo on the back of the cars he detailed in certain locations so that he could easily identify those vehicles at various business locations in Floyd and Pike Counties. Once Hamilton located one of these vehicles, he used the duplicate key to steal them.

Hamilton further admitted that he and an accomplice purchased donor vehicles from local dealerships and salvage yards. The men then took the legitimate VIN plates from the donor vehicles and placed them on the stolen vehicles to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen.

These vehicles were then sold to unsuspecting parties in 4 states.

Hamilton’s sentencing date has not been set.

More Stories
Man of "Monkee" Fame Comes to Summer Motion

Tea Parties Scheduled for Huntington and Kentucky Saturday

Holiday Weekend Outdoor Report

Floyd County Course Renewed

Man Accused of Videotaping Kids at Local Pools Appears in Court

Two Killed in Crash in Elliott County

Cam Mining Announces Layoffs

Summer Motion Survival Guide

Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Tracee on Oct 5, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Sounds like he had that planned out so well but it didn't say how he got caught.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 5, 2008 at 10:38 AM
i think its cool too..good idea..your insurance will pay for yuor car

Posted by: gary on Oct 2, 2008 at 06:21 PM
cool

WSAZ Kentucky News Headlines Widget
Add WSAZ Kentucky Headlines to your website or social networking page. Click “options” to get the code.

Call To Check Road Conditions

·WEST VIRGINIA: (877) 982-7623

·KENTUCKY: (866) 737-3767

·OHIO: (888) 264-7623

Click here for online road conditions
SearchKOW Business of the Day
WSAZ.com Sponsor Sections & Links
Healthy Tri-State
Live a healthier lifestyle in 2009
SOMC
Very good things are happening here
Moms4Moms
By moms, for moms
WV Lottery
Nightly drawings and numbers
Big Sandy
For all your furniture and appliance needs