NEWPORT-Three suspects out of 23 people indicted forracketeering in connection with an illegal chop shop operation just outsideNewport remained at large as of Saturday morning.

One of the three suspects has contacted federalauthorities and is due to surrender tomorrow, June 22, according to Neil Smith,Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Justice Department.

The other two-James Alfred Sisk, 46, of Newport (alsoknown as "Red"), and Brenda L. Brown, 41-are "on the lam"and "currently fugitives from justice," Smith said on Thursday.

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of thesuspects should contact the Federal Bureau of Information at (865) 544-0751 orthe Tennessee Highway Patrol at (423) 623-8653, Smith said.

Sixteen of the 23 indicted people, all but one of whomare from Cocke County, were arrested in a sweep Tuesday by Federal Bureau ofInvestigation agents, with the assistance of agents and officers from theTennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Most haddetention hearings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Inman in U.S. DistrictCourt in Greeneville, also on Tuesday, and were released on bond.

Smith said Saturday "the investigationcontinues," but gave no further details.

The alleged co-leader of the chop-shop enterprise, ThomasGrant Williams, 33, of 363 New Cave Church Road, in Newport, had a detentionhearing scheduled for Friday, but he waived his right to it and will bedetained pending a trial, Smith said.

The indictment charged the other alleged leader, Raymond("Ray") Eddie Hawk, plus Grant Williams, his brother Eric Williams,and Sisk-one of the three "fugitives from justice"-with conducting aracketeering enterprise centered around Hawk's automobile and recyclingbusiness known as "H-1 Auto" and later "A Automotive". Itis located at 120 Hollis Road, about five miles west of downtown Newport.

In addition to the racketeering charges, the four men arealso charged along with Milburn ("Theodore") Williams, a retiredcaptain with the Newport Police Department, and six others with participatingin the operation of a chop shop.

Grant and Eric Williams are the sons of Milburn Williams,who retired in 2008 from the Newport Police Department, where he worked 36years and eight months, according to the department.

Another indicted person, Felicia Darlene Stewart, 39, ofNewport, is married to Capt. Terry Stewart, who worked 31 years with theNewport Police Department before retiring in September of last year.

The 38-page indictment states that members of the"enterprise" called "Hawk Organization" and theirassociates used people within the local law enforcement community "to aidin the concealment of the enterprise's operation and to protect theenterprise's criminal operations."

Darrell Keith Burgin, 39, of Del Rio, surrendered tofederal authorities on Wednesday, June 17.

Burgin was charged with conspiracy, aiding and abettingthe operation of a chop shop, receipt of interstate stolen motor vehicles,tampering with vehicles' VIN identification numbers, and possessing motorvehicle parts with altered VINs, Smith said.

Curtis Gene Reed, 40, of Newport, also waived hisdetention hearing and remains in federal custody, Smith said. A state warrantfor parole violation was issued for him, according to Smith.

Jose Elpidio Cabrera, 31, of Newport, also waived hisdetention hearing after his status as an "undocumented alien," orillegal immigrant, was confirmed, according to Smith. He will remain in U.S.Marshall custody pending the outcome of this case, Smith added.

As of Friday evening, 19 suspects had made it to theirinitial appearances. Three of those suspects were detained, according to Smith.

A federal grand jury that met in Greeneville on Tuesday,June 9, indicted the 23 East Tennessee residents on charges of conducting aracketeering enterprise, racketeering conspiracy, operation of a chop shop,interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles and property, receipt ofstolen motor vehicles, altering identification numbers on motor vehicles andparts, trafficking in motor vehicles with altered identification numbers, andconspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Filing false insurance claimswas also alleged.

Penalties for the charged offenses range from five to upto 40 years imprisonment with fines of from $250,000 to $2 million.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of both real andpersonal property used in the commission of the offenses.

In a press release, the U.S. Attorney's office thankedthe National Insurance Crime Bureau and General Motors for their"invaluable" assistance in the investigation.

NICB was described as a national non-profit organizationdedicated to the prevention and detection of insurance fraud that along with GMassisted in matching car parts recovered during numerous searches with stolenvehicles, the release stated.

Smith was quoted in the release as saying, "As shownin the indictment, many of the stolen vehicles and 'salvage switches' involvedlate-model GMC and Chevrolet trucks. GM's ready assistance to law enforcement,through NICB, was crucial in the investigation and we are very grateful fortheir cooperation."