Multiple Arrests Made In Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

WASHINGTON, DC — More than 20 people in multiple states are facing federal charges after authorities Wednesday announced the takedown of a multimillion-dollar national catalytic converter theft network, according to the Department of Justice.

In a news release, Department of Justice officials said arrests, searches, and seizures took place in California, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, and Virginia after two separate indictments were unsealed Wednesday in the Eastern District of California and the Northern District of Oklahoma.

In California, a federal grand jury returned a 40‑count indictment charging nine people with conspiracy to transport stolen catalytic converters, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and other related charges.

In Oklahoma, a federal grand jury returned a 40‑count indictment charging 13 people with conspiracy to receive stolen catalytic converters, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and other related charges.

In addition to the indictments, over 32 search warrants were executed, and law enforcement seized millions of dollars in assets, including homes, bank accounts, cash, and luxury vehicles.

In all, 21 individuals in five states were arrested or charged for their roles in the network, authorities said.

"This national network of criminals hurt victims across the country," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. "They made hundreds of millions of dollars in the process on the backs of thousands of innocent car owners."

Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle's exhaust system that reduce the toxic gas and pollutants from a vehicle's internal combustion engine by turning them into safe emissions. Catalytic converters use precious metals in their center and are regularly targeted for theft due to the high monetary value of the metals.

The black-market price for catalytic converters can be more than $1,000 each, depending on the type of vehicle and what state it is from, according to the Department of Justice. One also takes less than a minute to steal.

Additionally, catalytic converters often lack unique serial numbers, VIN numbers, or other identifying features, making them difficult to trace to their lawful owner.

According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts have seen a dramatic increase in recent years.

In 2018, there were 1,298 catalytic converter thefts for which a claim was filed. In 2019, it was 3,389 thefts with a claim. In 2020, catalytic converter theft claims jumped massively to 14,433, a 325 percent increase in a single year.