John Travolta's stolen Mercedes-Benz recovered in pieces, two men arrested

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Police in California say a stolen vintage Mercedes convertible owned by John Travolta was recovered in pieces after detectives shut down an auto-theft ring.

Santa Monica police say 58-year-old Michael Green was arrested Dec. 6 and 52-year-old D.L. Rayford Jr. was taken into custody on Dec. 19, in connection to the September theft of Travolta's 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL.

Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis says Travolta's car was stolen after he parked it on the street in a residential area and went to a nearby Jaguar dealership on Sept. 18.

Green is reportedly charged with two counts of grand theft auto, involving Travolta's vehicle and another Mercedes-Benz, and is set to appear Feb. 8 at the Airport Branch Courthouse.

According to the District Attorney's office, Rayford pleaded no contest to one count of grand theft auto and was sentenced Jan. 5 to 16 months in state prison, CBS Los Angeles reports.

The men allegedly were involved in a sophisticated auto-theft ring that targeted older-model Mercedes and muscle cars. Detectives shut down the ring and recovered parts of Travolta's Mercedes and seven other stolen vehicles.

Lewis said authorities waited until Wednesday to announce the arrests because their investigation into Rayford and Green had been ongoing.