Man arrested on 5,000+ charges in Florida scrapyard fraud investigation
Mar 26, 2026 · Rockledge, FL

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Scrappys Auto Salvage in Rockledge on March 26, 2026, following a quiet investigation that began in September 2025 into vehicle documentation violations. Theodore Gross was arrested on over 5,000 charges including failure to obtain certificates of destruction, motor vehicle regulation violations, grand theft, fraud, operating a chop shop, and racketeering, and is being held without bond. The operation resulted in the recovery of 19 stolen vehicles and seizure of tow trucks. Investigators also detained 13 undocumented immigrants from Afghanistan, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala during the raid, which drew immigration rights activists to the scene and raised concerns about local law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration agencies.
Sources
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