LI Man Sentenced After String Of Catalytic Converter Thefts: DA

WADING RIVER, NY — A Shirley man was sentenced Tuesday after stealing catalytic converters in Wading River, as well as for his involvement in both commercial burglaries and a robbery in Suffolk County, District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Blaise Marckesano, 38, was sentenced to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison after committing the string of catalytic converter thefts and other crimes, Tierney said.

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution,
between December 11 and December 13, 2021, Marckesano stole six catalytic converters from
recreational vehicles that were parked at W.E.S. Trailer Services in Wading River, Tierney said.

Catalytic converters are a part of a vehicle’s exhaust device and use precious metals in their center to reduce pollutants from a vehicle’s engine, the DA said. The precious metals, which include palladium, platinum, and rhodium, can be valuable and make catalytic converters a target for theft, he added.

Marckesano was also involved in a robbery and a string of commercial burglaries in April 2023, Tierney said.

On April 1, Marckesano pushed a store clerk and forcibly stole beer at a deli in Shirley, the DA said. Then, between April 13 and April 25, Marckesano broke into an American Legion Post in Mastic Beach on two separate occasions and stole about $6,000, Tierney said.

On April 21, Marckesano broke into a Home Depot store in Shirley and stole assorted lawn supplies valued at about $2,800, Tierney said.

On October 23, Marckesano pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, to the following charges, Tierney said:

- One count of third-degree robbery, a felony
- Three counts of third-degree burglary, a felony
- One count of first-degree auto stripping, a felony.

Marckesano was represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

"Serial recidivists such as this defendant are the reason my office teamed up with our Suffolk County town supervisors to create the quality-of-life town coalition," said Tierney. "Quality of life crimes such as catalytic converter thefts and commercial burglaries seriously impact the safety of Suffolk County residents and businesses alike. These crimes have damaging financial effects to our hard-working residents. I hope this sentence sends the message that my office will continue to vigorously prosecute these crimes."