Brothers arrested in chop shop operation

Investigators have uncovered a chop shop in Florence County and arrested two Lake City brothers in connection with its operation, Florence County Sheriff Kenney Boone said.

Lafayette Bradford, 43, of 1439 Johnsonville Highway was arrested Wednesday is charged with violating the motor vehicle chop shop stolen and altered property act, possession, concealment, sale or disposal of a motor vehicle-value $5,000 or more and receiving stolen goods-value $5,000 or more, Florence County Detention Center booking reports show.

His brother, 58-year-old Larry Bradford of 298 Bethea Road, was arrested Friday and charged with unlawfully owning, operating or conducting a chop shop or transporting a vehicle to sell to a chop shop, according to booking reports.

A chop shop is a place where stolen automobiles are stripped of parts that in turn are sold for profit. This operation was uncovered by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and Lake City Police Department, Boone said. They found a trailer stolen from Darlington County, another stolen from Berkeley County and a Ford Mustang stolen from Marion County at Lafayette Bradford’s residence.