TPD Search Recovers More Than 150 Stolen Catalytic Convertors

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A Tuscaloosa man is out on bond and charged with multiple felony offenses after investigators discovered more than 150 catalytic converters during a recent search warrant of a home in the 5600 block of 21st Avenue East.

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The Tuscaloosa Police Department said Gregory Bernard Hudson, 58, was taken into custody early Wednesday. Along with the catalytic converters, police also recovered other exhaust system components stored in closets, outbuildings and the back yard of the residence.

Indeed, TPD went on to say that officers filled approximately eight 50-gallon totes with confiscated auto parts, which were then transported to TPD headquarters in the flatbeds of three pickup trucks.

The initial investigation has been ongoing since June following a spike in the theft and resale of catalytic converters in Tuscaloosa.

TPD said Hudson was charged with violating a new state law that outlines procedures secondary metal recyclers must follow when purchasing catalytic converters. This saw Hudson charged with 10 counts of ownership documentation required for purchase of certain property — a Class B felony.

He was also charged with one count of second-degree receiving stolen property, which is a Class C felony. Hudson was reportedly released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail after his bond was set at $315,000.

TPD went on to explain that as of Thursday morning, investigators had matched the serial number of one converter that was reported stolen, leading to the receiving stolen property charge.

“This is an ongoing investigation, but we expect additional charges once we’re able to look
closely at each of the converters we confiscated,” TPD Captain Kip Hart said. “We’ll be looking for serial numbers and going back through all of the theft reports we’ve received during the last several months to see what we can match.”

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