New Haven Man, 30, Admits Stealing, Selling Catalytic Converters: Feds

NEW HAVEN, CT —Michael Almodovar, 30, of New Haven, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring, according to U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, Vanessa Roberts Avery.

According to Avery, court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. 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, prosecutors said. "The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component," Avery noted.

The U.S. Attorney said the "investigation revealed that Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford, purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Almodovar, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey."

According to Avery, business records seized during the investigation revealed that, between March 2022 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Almodovar $34,445 for catalytic converters.

"In one incident, while Almodovar was in the process of stealing a catalytic converter from a car parked in a parking lot, he was interrupted by a witness who used his cellphone take pictures of Almodovar," a Justice Department news release reads. "Almodovar attacked the witness, smashed his car window, cut him with the saw he used to steal the converter, and then fled. The next day, Almodovar sold six converters to Downpipe Depot in exchange for $2,180."

Almodovar, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, faces a total maximum of 15 years in prison when sentenced June 18, federal prosecutors 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.