D’Ante Carter, Catalytic Converter Theft, Missouri 2020

ST. LOUIS – In a crackdown on catalytic converter thefts, a man involved in the theft and sale of 39 catalytic converters has been sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $46,001. D’Ante Carter, 38, acted as lookout as another man stole the catalytic converters, which contain trace amounts of precious metals.

The thefts occurred from January to September of 2020. During this time, Carter and the other man primarily targeted trucks and vans parked at landscaping companies, commercial businesses, and an organization that helps those with disabilities. They then sold the converters to a recycling company in Illinois, according to an admission made by Carter in his plea agreement.

Carter pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in February. Another man, Matthew Jennings, 31, was indicted in April on the same charge and has pleaded not guilty. His case is pending.

The FBI and multiple police departments in the St. Louis area, including the St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Creve Coeur, Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, O’Fallon, Missouri, and Webster Groves police departments, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware prosecuted the case.

Carter’s sentence marks a significant blow to those involved in the theft and sale of catalytic converters, which have become a rising concern for vehicle owners across the region. The thefts are often carried out with the intent to sell the precious metals contained within the converters.

With this sentence, law enforcement officials hope to deter others from engaging in similar crimes. The recycling company in Illinois, where the converters were sold, has also been implicated in the scheme.

In total, Carter must pay $46,001 in restitution. His nine-month prison sentence is set to commence immediately.

D’Ante Carter’s involvement in the conspiracy charge is as follows: he was involved in the theft and sale of 39 catalytic converters, which contain trace amounts of precious metals.

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