Three Rhode Island men have been charged in federal court in Providence for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to steal and sell hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of catalytic converters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
According to federal prosecutors, Kuron Mitchell, of Newport, Alberto Rivera, of Cranston, and Luis Aceituno, of Providence, have each been charged with interstate transportation of stolen property in excess of $5,000 and conspiracy. Additionally, Aceituno is charged with filing false tax returns.
According to charging documents, in January 2022, the Cranston Police Department began tracking patterns surrounding the thefts of catalytic converters. Police later identified a group they alleged were responsible for more than 7,000 stolen catalytic converters in southern New England and in the greater Boston area, valued at more than $2.4 million.
Many of the stolen catalytic converters were sold to a Providence company that recycles catalytic converters. At the time, the average scrap price for catalytic converters ranged from $300 to $1,500.
Court documents allege that from at least January 2021 until November 2022, Rivera, Aceituno, Mitchell, and others canvassed neighborhoods and parking lots in search of unoccupied vehicles from which they could steal catalytic converters. Working in groups, they allegedly targeted vehicles in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, cut off the catalytic converters, and sold many of them to the Providence recycler.
An FBI analysis of recycling firm’s databases and a review of a crime database maintained by the state’s attorney general revealed that from 2021 to 2022, Rivera allegedly sold 19 catalytic converters and received $7,100; and Aceituno allegedly sold 2,128 catalytic converters and received $699,735.
Prosecutors further allege that Aceituno failed to disclose to the IRS income of $699,735 from the sale of converters and failed to pay a total of $199,908 due to the IRS.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Prosecutors in Connecticut recently announced sentencing of two men involved in catalytic converter theft and trafficking.
Last October, a man who orchestrated the thefts of catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles, multiple jewelry store robberies and the stealing of banks’ automated teller machines was sentenced in federal court in Boston.
The law enforcement efforts appear to be paying off for insurers. State Farm auto claims data has revealed a significant drop in catalytic converter theft claims. There was a 74% drop for the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The average claim in the first half of 2024 was nearly $2,900.
In the Rhode Island case, in addition to the FBI and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, other agencies that participated in the investigation included police departments in Cranston, Newport, and Providence, Rhode Island, and police departments at Fitchburg State University and in Watertown, Canton, Attleboro and Fall River, Massachusetts.
Source: U.S. Attorney, District of Rhode Island
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