5 Indicted In Thefts Of Catalytic Converters From Buses In Westchester

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A Westchester County grand jury has handed down a 24-count indictment of five men in connection with the countywide theft of 56 van and bus catalytic converters with a fair market value of more than $50,000, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah announced on Wednesday.

A year-long investigation, conducted by 13 law enforcement agencies, led to a coordinated takedown of the five men accused of participating in the five-month stealing spree.

"This case sends a clear message that Westchester County is cracking down on catalytic converter thefts, a nationwide scourge plaguing car owners with thousands of dollars in replacement costs and damages," Rocah said. "I applaud the efforts taken by the criminal investigators in my Office and all of our law enforcement partners in continuing to protect Westchester residents and businesses from fraud and theft."

The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office initiated the wide-ranging investigation with the Briarcliff Manor Police Department, the Greenburgh Police Department, the New Rochelle Police Department and the Pelham Manor Police Department. The multiagency task force was able to identify Timothy Jimenez, 24, Christian Ancrum, 23, and Jason Vargas, 19, all of New Rochelle, and Joealen Garcia, 31, of Orlando, Florida, as participants in the theft of a total of 56 catalytic convertors from Ford Econoline vans, Royal Coach Lines buses, and school buses in Briarcliff, Greenburgh, Peekskill, Pelham, and Yonkers, officials said. The thefts took place on 11 different occasions between November 21, 2021 and March 28, 2022, according to investigators, who said at least 42 of the stolen catalytic converters were recovered in a Bronx scrap yard.

The investigation also identified a fifth defendant, Nicholas Luzardi, 23, of New Rochelle, who police said was in possession of stolen catalytic convertors in Pelham Manor on January 28.

Stolen catalytic converters carry a resale value averaging $300 each at scrap yards, and up to $1,000 on the black market, for the precious metals they contain, such as palladium, platinum and rhodium, according to law enforcement. Larger vehicles, trucks and SUVs are especially enticing because the larger-sized catalytic converters carry higher values on the black market, and because the height of the vehicle from the ground allows for easier access to steal the catalytic converters.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department, North Castle Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Westchester County Department of Public Safety, New York City Police Department, New York State Police and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey also assisted in the investigation.

Jimenez, Vargas and Luzardi were arraigned in Westchester County Court on December 22. Ancrum is scheduled to be arraigned on January 5. Garcia will be arraigned following his expected arrest.

Jimenez was charged with six counts of grand larceny in the third degree, six counts of auto stripping in the first degree, three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree, all felonies. He was also charged with three counts of auto stripping in the third degree.

Ancrum was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, two counts of auto stripping in the first degree, three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree and three counts of auto stripping in the third degree.

Garcia was charged with two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, two counts of auto stripping in the first degree and criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree.

Vargas was charged with three counts of grand larceny in the third degree, three counts of auto stripping in the first degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree and auto stripping in the third degree.

Luzardi was charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the third degree.

The case is before Judge George Fufidio in Westchester County Court, and is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney and Auto Crimes Coordinator Adrian Murphy of the Trials and Investigations Division.