An almost 2 and 1/2 -year state police investigation was launched, after Bristol Township Police Sgt. Jason Mancuso’s suspicions were heightened when pulling over a vehicle carrier, led to the arrests of three men accused of running a chop shop operation in Philadelphia involving 23 reported stolen vehicles with the investigative tentacles reaching deep into Lower Bucks County.
Saleem Lucas, the apparent mastermind of the alleged stolen vehicle/chop scheme celebrated his 39 birthday at Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF) after he was arraigned by District Judge John Galloway earlier in July. A warrant for the Medford New Jersey man’s arrest was issued in May, along with his two alleged co-conspirators Michael Brown and Isaac Jones both of Philadelphia. Brown and Jones were arraigned in June and with Lucas taken into custody on July 2
All three are charged with felony RICO counts (corrupt organizations) of receiving stolen property, and a myriad of chop shop related offenses. Lucas, the alleged mastermind, was charged with 30 felony counts of corrupt organizations related offenses. The charges were filed by the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Bureau of Investigations.
Lucas remains in Bucks County authorities’ custody on 10 percent of $100,000.00 bail. His co-conspirators were released on unsecured bail after Judge Galloway arraigned them in June.
The Investigation Part 1: Sgt Mancuso Suspects Something
The investigation was launched in December of 2021, after a request was made for the Pennsylvania State Police to assist the Bristol Police Department, in an investigation. Mancuso requested assistance on the investigation. The Sgt holds a special state certification/designation from the Commonwealth for motor carrier inspections.
Mancuso told state police on Wednesday December 8, 2021 at 2:45 p,m while on duty he, conducted a traffic stop of a commercial motor vehicle, a 2006 Freightliner bearing PA registration AH19339, registered to DS Service Group Inc. and a car carrier type trailer carrying approximately twelve (12) crushed vehicles for a commercial motor vehicle inspection. Numerous motor vehicle violations were observed. The trailer was bearing Pennsylvania registration. The driver, Cristino Pardes-Marte provided a PennDOT MV-1 form dated January 29, 2021 for the trailer which indicated the trailer hauling the crushed cars was owner by “Back 2 New 2 LLC”.
Mancuso had the vehicles towed to Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center, an authorized police towing company, for violations discovered and to conduct a thorough motor vehicle inspection. The truck and trailer were towed to a Fairless Hills site which is a storage lot used by Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center.

Sgt Jason Mancuso at a recent Bristol Twp Council meeting
On Wednesday, December 8th 2021 at 3:45 hours, the owner of the truck, Otavio Silva arrived at Police Headquarters and advised that Lucas is the owner of the trailer. Lucas arrived shortly thereafter, the probable cause says
Lucas provided Mancuso a second PennDOT MV-1 form dated December 9th 2021 for the registration of trailer. The forms were notarized by Leroy Johnson and processed by Patti Ann’s Auto Tags.
NCIC/CLEAN queries of the license plate show that it is an unassigned inactive Pennsylvania license plate.
Johnson’s Notary Commission had expired on August 5th 2020 per Department of State. Only one MV form is issued per license plate, investigators know that the issuance of multiple MV forms to prove registration is indicative of a forgery, the criminal complaint alleges.
Mancuso informed Lucas the truck was under investigation and that he would contact Lucas at a later date, police records show.
Pennsylvania State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Eastern Organized Crime Task Force Launch Investigation:
On Thursday December 9, 2021, investigators conducted an exterior inspection of the truck and trailer. Mancuso was unable to complete this commercial motor vehicle inspection and could not locate the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate for the trailer portion. Investigators did not authorize a release of this truck, trailer or contents of the trailer to Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center.
Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center under prior established procedures will need an authorized release from the Bristol Police Department prior to the release of vehicles seized by police.
On Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m Mancuso and a Trooper with the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) arrived to the repair lot of Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center located at to conduct the full commercial motor vehicle inspection, police said in court records.

Credit: Rob’s Auto File Photo
Mancuso discovered the crushed vehicles were missing from the car carrier trailer. Lucas who had arrived at Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center, admitted to having the crushed vehicles removed.
Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center employees advised that Charles Norton, a business partner and family of Lucas, authorized the removal of the truck and trailer.
On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, state investigators contacted a manager of Sims Metal, 300 Steel Road S. Morrisville, and requested records for vehicles that were dropped off to Sims Metal between the timeframe of December 9 December 15, 2021 in the following names or companies: Cristino Paredes-Marte, Otavio Silva, Charles Norton, Saleem Lucas, Back 2 New LLC and DS Service Group Inc, court records show.
On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, State Police investigators met with a manager at Sims Metal receiving the requested record, according to court records.
On December 10, 2021 at approximately 2:26 hours the truck and trailer bearing Pennsylvania registration that was supposed to be under impound by Bristol Twp Police arrived at Sims Metal in Morrisville and dropped off a load of salvage vehicles. Surveillance photographs by Sims Metal were provided to state police, court records sh0w.

Credit: Submitted
The record indicated that the customer account that delivered this load was “Back 2 New” owned by Lucas. Staff at Sims Metal said that they did not obtain the titles for vehicles delivered from Back 2 New, the probable cause alleges.
On January 5, 2022, Troopers obtained recorded phone calls from Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center that depicted the following:
- A phone recording from Sgt Mancuso on December 9, 2021 to employee, Jessica Franzen.
- A phone recording from Charlie Norton to employee, Brady Daniels on December 9, 2021.
- A phone recording from Sgt Mancuso to employee, Jessica Franzen on December 14, 2021 regarding the outcome of the inspection.
- A video of Charlie Norton and Saleem Lucas coming to Rob’s Automotive & Collision Center on December 10, 2021.
Those files were placed onto a USB thumb drive by Rob’s Automotive & Collision and was entered into evidence.
State Police investigators reviewed a phone call between Mancuso and Jessica Franzen where he specifically stated that the Back 2 New trailer and vehicle was not to be release Also reviewed are the December 9, 2021 phone call between Charlie Norton and Brady Daniele where he related that he and his nephew were coming to the tow yard to remove license plates from the VIN plate of the trailer to assist the police locating the VIN plate of the trailer, according to court records .
State investigators on Monday, January 17, 2022, were contacted by a representative of Sims Metal and they advised that two (2) carloads of crushed vehicles from “Back 2 New was delivered to their location on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Sims Metal staff related that the loads are in a secure section. Troopers told Sims Metal that would inspect these vehicles and to not process them, the probable cause alleges.
On January 18, 2022 at 12:00 p.m., state investigators arrived at Sims Metal, to inspect twenty 20 vehicles that were delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling on January 15, 2022. Sims Metal recorded the acquisition of these vehicles for their own record keeping purposes.
Investigators presented to a Sims Metal representative a consent to search form, which was signed at 12:13 p.m. to search Sims Metal for stolen parts, vehicles and or vehicles used in the commission of a crime. Sims Metal related that Back 2 New brought the vehicles in soft crushed condition with most of the VINs having been destroyed. Soft crushed condition is when the vehicles have been crushed to the point that the roof is destroyed and flattened, noted investigators in the probable cause.
The vehicles were inspected and later queried through NCIC:
Three (3) vehicles were discovered and later confirmed to be in stolen status:
A review of the surveillance provided by Sims Metal shows Lucas and Patricia Ann Lucas delivered the load of crushed vehicles that included the stolen vehicles listed, court records show.
A review of Lucas’ Instagram account back2new autoparts shows an advertisement for Back 2 New 2 Recycling posted on August 31, 2021 where he advertises “We take any junk cars @ top dollar with titles or with out titles…” The account showed industrial construction equipment adjacent to a crushed vehicle, investigators wrote in court paperwork.
Through investigation police determined that Back 2 New 2 Recycling was located at 1224-1228 Belmont Avenue, City in Philadelphia.
On March 15th and 16th 2022, Back 2 New 2 Recycling delivered two load(s) of crushed vehicles that were in soft crushed condition with most of the public VINs having been destroyed to Mazza Iron & Steel located at 60 Solar Drive, Fairless Hills and conducted a search of these vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling and discovered an additional three stolen vehicles were discovered and confirmed through NCIC/CLEAN:
A 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage reported stolen to Philadelphia Police on March 2nd, 2022.
A 2007 Chevrolet Suburban reported stolen to Philadelphia Police on March 13th, 2022.
A 2008 Infiniti Q5, reported stolen to Philadelphia Police on December 30th 2021 during a carjacking type robbery (Philadelphia Police DC# 21-19-070759), according to court records.
On March 18th 2022, State Troopers conducted a search at Mazza Iron & Steel in Fairless Hills and inspected crushed vehicles that were delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling.
Investigators discovered one (1) stolen vehicle in this batch that was confirmed a Toyota Camry, which was reported stolen to Philadelphia Police on March 13th 2022.
On April 6th 2022, your troopers conducted a search at Sims Metal, 300 Steel Road South Morrisville. Crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling were inspected. Sims Metal recorded this acquisition of vehicles, according to court records.
One (1) vehicle was discovered and confirmed to be in stolen status via NCIC; A Hyundai 2016 Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen on December 14th, 2020 to Philadelphia Police, court records allege.
On April 13th 2022, Authorities conducted a search at Sims Metal, as they were on site when Back 2 New 2 Recycling delivered a load of crushed vehicles. Sims Metal recorded the delivery in its records for evidentiary purposes.
The crushed vehicles were inspected by authorities who discovered one stolen vehicle that was confirmed through record checks. Which was a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis reported stolen on March 17th, 2022 to Philadelphia Police, said the criminal complaint.
On April 26th 2022, your Stare Police conducted a search at Sims Metal in Morrisville, an inspected a load of crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling on April 23rd, 2022. One (1) stolen vehicle that was confirmed stolen though records checks; A 2016 Toyota Corolla was reported stolen on February 21, 2022 to Philadelphia Police.
On April 27th 2022, your Affiant and Trooper Jim Leitch conducted surveillance at Back 2 New 2 Recycling located at 1224 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia and observed Saleem Lucas, Isaac Jones load a Back 2 New 2 Recycling trailer full of crushed cars at 1224 Belmont Avenue and drive the trailer to Sims Metal and parked outside the business overnight. This trailer was delivered on the morning of April 28th 2022.
On April 28th 2022, Trooper Jim Leitch and Trooper Andi Avdulla conducted a search at Sims Metal in Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and inspected a load of crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling. Sims Metal recorded this acquisition of vehicles under Ticket # TOGXWL.
One (1) stolen vehicle was discovered and confirmed via NCIC/CLEAN:
Chrysler 300 was reported stolen on April 6th, 2022 to Philadelphia Police. (Philadelphia Police DC# 22-18-016593).
On April 29th 2022, I conducted a search at Sims Metal in Morrisville, Bucks County. Pennsylvaniaand inspected a load of crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling on April 29th, 2022.
The vehicle was reported stolen to Darby Borough Police, Delaware County on April 26th, 2022. (Darby Police Incident # 20220427M4327)
I was contacted by Officer Francis Collier of Darby Township Police Department, Delaware County, PA and received a copy of his report and learned the following:
On April 27, 2022, J.S. (Victim) reported her Buick stolen to the Darby Police Department.
J.S. related that her neighbor saw a truck described as a black dually take the vehicle that was occupied by two Black males.
Officer Francis Collier ran the vehicle through their License Plate Reader (LPR) system and observed a Dodge Ram dually type truck bearing a dolly trailer hauling the stolen vehicle.
Further investigation by Officer Collier determined that the license plate of the Dodge Ram was Pennsylvania registration ZRM8977.
This Ram truck is registered to Michael Mark Brown.
The Ram truck dolly type trailer was a U-Haul rental with identification numbers TD1291D, no registration plate was attached to this dolly type trailer.
Troopers reviewed Saleem Lucas’ Instagram Account, mr_hustleforpurpose, and reviewed his “Followers” for an account associated with the Darby Police’s suspect, Brown. Police located Brown’s Instagram account mike_mastiffwp. reviewed it account “mike_mastiffwp” and in his profile, he advertises owning”@mastiff_transportsllc” and “mastiff_protection_services”, a towing business.
Troopers reviewed the “mastiff_transportslle” Instagram account and located a telephone number listed by Brown as (215) 940-5215 an AT&T subscriber. Investigators obtained the Call Detail Records via subpoena, according to court records.
Investigators reviewed Brown’s Call Detail Records and observed Brown calls to Lucas on April 26th 2022 at 1944 hours, which was the date of the theft. Brown is observed allegedly towing this vehicle on a traffic camera at approximately 7:53 a.m. on April 26th 2022, court records show.
On May 13th 2022, Troopers conducted a search at Sims Metal in Morrisville, inspecting a load of crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling on May 13th 2022. Sims Metal recorded this acquisition of vehicles, according to court records. Two vehicles were discovered and confirmed to be stolen per the NCIC database:
On May 19th, 2022, State authorities conducted a search at Sims Metal in Morrisville, and inspected a load of crushed vehicles delivered by Back 2 New 2 Recycling on May 19th, 2022. Sims Metal recorded the acquisition of vehicles with one (1) vehicle discovered and confirmed to be stolen, according to Commonwealth records.
State investigators discovered several more instances of the same pattern playing out; reported stolen vehicles showing up to be crushed at area metal recycle businesses.
Brown the owner of Mastiff Transports allegedly rented a U-Haul dolly-type trailer that was used to facilitate the tow of the 2003 Buick Regal from a residence in Darb, Pa. State authorities interviewed Brown, in May of 2022 who admitted to towing the Buick, the probable cause alleges.
He received a phone call about an abandoned vehicle from a neighbor that he believes the name was either “John” or “Brian”. That neighbor related that there was no owner and that the house was vacant for eight (8) months.He saw abandoned house stickers and saw old inspection stickers on the vehicle. He towed the vehicle and held it at a lot at Dicks Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for three (3) months. He related that he left a letter at the property indicated the Buick had been towed by his company and no one had contacted him after that. He related that the vehicle was “junked” and believes it was demolished for metal. He related that he believes it went to a junkyard at 61″ and Passayunk Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He related that he should have a tow slip for the tow of this vehicle. He related that the neighbor called him on his cell phone ******* .He related that the neighbor had the registration card for the vehicle and did not receive the title for the vehicle. He related that the junkyard will typically ask for identification, tow slip and registration card or title. He related that the vehicle was likely crushed, according to court records.
He related that the neighbor was a Black male, scruffy beard, approximately forty (40) years of age, 6 feet tall, -200 lbs, adding the neighbor did not get paid for the tow of this vehicle. Brown said he received $400 from the junkyard for this vehicle.
Brown signed the non-custodial statement form when the interview was concluded, according to court records. Brown later provided the tow receipt which indicated that the vehicle was towed on April 26th, 2022. The telephone number and name that was provided did not further the investigation into the neighbor that called Brown to tow this 2003 Buick Regal.
State Police Execute Search Warrant Lucas’ Instagram Account
In June of 2022, State Police were issued a court approved search warrant for the Instagram of Lucas’ account: mr_hustleforpurpose.
On July 14th 2022, State Police received records from Meta Platforms, Inc. from the search warrant which contained the content of Saleem Lucas’ Instagram mr_hustleforpurpose. Communications between Lucas and other users discussing the acquisition of vehicles without title paperwork. These communications occurred several times, investigators noted in the probable cause affidavit.

File Image: Pennsylvania State Police Patrol Unit in Morrisville Borough
In April of 2023, investigations completed a cellular download of Saleem Lucas cellular phone ^^^**** from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The FBI obtained Lucas’ phone after a shooting that occurred on Interstate 76 East in the City and County of Philadelphia on April 5th. 2023.
Suspect: “they gone send me to jail, they on fire and they bringing there heat my way”.
State Police reviewed the contents and found the following of investigative relevance:
On November 29, 2022 Lucas received a text message from 267-738-8702 relating to another person that he would take a vehicle without a title. Lucas would also receive text messages from contact “Flock” about scrap metal processors when they would set aside vehicles that were brought in to be scrapped. “Flock” was determined to be Jones, a commercial driver for Back 2 New 2 Recycling.
On March 5th, 2022, Lucas also communicated with Treva Harris via text message “I don’t trust fat e and them but zah continues to buy junk off them, they gone send me to jail, they on fire and they bringing there heat my way”.
Jones, would text Lucas when they suspected scrap metal processors were putting crushed vehicles aside for further investigation about 15 times, according to court records (a sample the text exchanges is below)
On April 1st, 2022 at 11:43 AM (UTC), Lucas contact “flock edl new” ( Jones) who texted Lucas “I’m at Mazza they put are cars off to the side again Spanish Bull will be calling you later on to give you the drop..on shit he deff asking for money I said my boss got you”
April 12th, 2022 6:22 PM (UTC), “You see what’s going on hating shit again”
April 19th, 2022 4:13 PM (UTC) “Cars went in the pile everything good”
May 17th, 2022 4:25 PM (UTC) “So what they do is act like they put them in a pile that’s good but when I leave they put them in that other pile”
May 17th, 2022 4:25 PM (UTC) “Now they got people around the truck checking”
June 3rd 2022 5:11 PM (UTC) “Found it” with picture message of vehicles at Sims set aside
June 15th 2022 5:51 PM (UTC) “Right in the pile” picture message at Mazza Metal
June 23rd 2022 11:49 AM (UTC) “Call me when you can I was crushing cars just trying to make it easier for you I broke the hydraulic line just take it out my money I will never touch this machine again I’m truly sorry”
During the period of this investigation, Jones operated as a commercial vehicle operator for Back 2 New 2 Recycling and would haul crushed cars in the Back 2 New 2 trailer, authorities allege.
Feds/State Police Raid Back 2 New 2 in Philadelphia
On December 19th 2023, members of the Pennsylvania State Police- Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Organized Crime Task Force assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation with a federal search warrant at 1224-1236 Belmont Avenue, in Philadelphia.
During the search investigators discovered in the rear of the property at Back 2 New 2 a plethora of vehicles in various stages of disassembly along with equipment to facilitate car crushing such as a hydraulic press, forklift and a backhoe type vehicle. Photographs were taken of most of the vehicles on the rear of the property and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) and also vehicles that were parked in a fenced lot on the property which close to the main entrance and garage entrance (Girard Avenue side).
Your Affiant identified a Volvo excavator, Volvo wheel loader, hydraulic car press affixed to a trailer with vehicles in various states of disassembly located nearby. The hydraulic car press had a vehicle crushed inside. These items were observed in the rear of the Back 2 New 2 property located on 1224-1236 Belmont Avenue, City & County of Philadelphia.
On December 20th, 2023, I reviewed the pictures and queried the VINs through the National Criminal Information Center (NCIC). I discovered that three of the vehicles were listed as being in STOLEN status:
2017 Nissan Murano, red in color, reported stolen 1/27/23
2021 Chrysler 300, gray in color, reported stolen 12/15/23
2018 Honda Accord, brown in color, reported stolen 11/28/23
The 2021 Chrysler 300 was in demolished condition and was missing doors, 2018 Honda Accord was missing the front bumper and the 2021 Nissan Murano was in fair condition.
On December 21, state authorities obtained a search warrant and recovered the three (3) stolen vehicles located at the Back 2 Lot on Belmont Avenue, in Philadelphia. Authorities also called Lucas, and he said that he acquired the vehicles as part of his recycling business and that he has the towing receipts, court records allege
About 60 days later 2024 investigators requested Lucas come in for a interview, which through his attorney, he declined to be interviewed.
Subsequently records for all motor vehicles obtained by Back 2 New 2 Recycling over the 2- year time frame of the investigation were requested.
There were 23 stolen vehicles recovered during the investigation into the alleged chop shop directly connected to Back 2 New 2 Recycling and Lucas, state authorities said in the probable cause affidavit
Back 2 New 2 Recycling is not licensed by PennDOT or registered with the Pennsylvania State Police to conduct salvage or scrap metal processing, according to state authorities. Salvage dealers are required to report crushed vehicles to PennDOT on a MV-7 form; Back 2 New 2 Recycling did (does) not maintain these records of the acquisition of vehicles and the notification of destruction to PennDOT or federal authorities.
Back 2 New 2 Recycling is also not licensed within the City of Philadelphia to conduct this type of business. Additionally, Back 2 New 2 Recycling is registered with National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) however has not reported any vehicles that they have crushed as required by federal law, said lead investigator.
Lucas, Brown, and Jones are all scheduled for preliminary hearings on September 17 at Falls Township District Court.