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18h ago

Leader of $38M Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison

Tou Sue Vang, who trafficked stolen parts across state lines and laundered profits to fund a lavish lifestyle, received the sentence as part of a first-of-its-kind federal crackdown.

Alberto Pachuca, a mechanic, builds a protective cage for a catalytic converter in a Toyota Prius at Johnny Franklin Muffler on January 24, 2021, in Santa Rosa. A Sacramento man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in federal prison for leading a sprawling $38 million operation trafficking in stolen catalytic converters, a scheme authorities say stretched from California to New Jersey and exploited thousands of car owners across the country.
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Overview

  • Tou Sue Vang, 33, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for leading a $38 million catalytic converter theft ring spanning California to New Jersey.
  • The operation involved buying stolen converters from local thieves and transporting them to New Jersey buyers, including DG Auto, for resale and metal extraction.
  • Proceeds from the scheme were laundered through falsified shipping documents and bank withdrawals, funding luxury purchases such as homes, Teslas, and watercraft.
  • Federal authorities described the case as the first nationwide takedown targeting organized catalytic converter theft, a growing crime fueled by the high value of precious metals in the parts.
  • Co-conspirators Andrew Vang and Monica Moua await sentencing, while New Jersey-based buyers Navin and Tinu Khanna face ongoing federal prosecution.