Austintown chop-shop suspects charged

YOUNGSTOWN

Three men accused of running a chop shop out of a rented garage on Lanterman Road in Austintown appeared in court Tuesday.

Cory Hilbert, 24, was arrested at his Allendale Avenue home Monday and is charged with receiving stolen property and altering vehicle identification numbers, according to WFMJ-TV 21, the Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

Randall Hilbert, 31, of Youngstown, was also arrested, and Justin Salata, 32, of Youngstown, turned himself in for his role in the alleged chop-shop ring, WFMJ reported.

All three are charged with racketeering, a form of organized crime, and the 23-count indictment came from a joint investigation by Youngstown police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the FBI and the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force. Authorities told WFMJ more arrests are expected.