Man, 27, Admits Role In Catalytic Converter Theft Ring: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT —Mervin Figueroa, 27, of New Haven, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Tuesday to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring, according to U.S. Attorney for CT, Vanessa Roberts Avery.

Law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut, Avery said, noting that "a catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves." The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component, she said.

According to Avery, court documents and statements made in court, the investigation revealed that Alexander Kolitsas owned and operated Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford. From approximately January 2021 to June 2022, Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Figueroa, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey, per prosecutors. "Kolitsas instructed his suppliers on the types of converters that would obtain the most profit upon resale," Avery wrote, adding that, "He would often meet with them and transact business at his home late at night or behind a family member’s restaurant after hours."

Court records show, the US Attorney said, that business records seized during the investigation revealed that Downpipe Depot paid Figueroa $169,840 for catalytic converters, including converters that were stolen in two separate incidents from vehicles at U-Haul Moving and Storage in Naugatuck.

"In messages between Kolitsas and Figueroa, Kolitsas told Figueroa that he needed to remove anti-theft tags that U-Haul had placed on the converters before Kolitsas would take them," Avery wrote.

Figueroa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. He'll be sentenced Feb. 5, 2025.

Arrested on Nov. 15, 2023, he's out on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

Kolitsas pleaded guilty to related charges on Oct. 7, 2024, and awaits sentencing, Avery said.

This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.