Thief in $169,840 Catalytic Converter Ring Pleads Guilty in Connecticut
A new Haven man has admitted to his role in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring, which netted him over $169,000 in profits.
Mervin Figueroa, 27, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property. The maximum term of imprisonment for these offenses is up to 15 years.
The investigation revealed that the stolen catalytic converters contained precious metals, which can be sold for a significant profit. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.
The investigation also revealed that Alexander Kolitsas, the owner and operator of Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, had been purchasing stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Figueroa. Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot would then transport and sell the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey.
Figueroa was paid $169,840 for catalytic converters, including converters that were stolen in two separate incidents from vehicles at U-Haul Moving and Storage in Naugatuck. Business records seized during the investigation revealed that Kolitsas had instructed his suppliers on the types of converters that would obtain the most profit upon resale.
Figueroa pleaded guilty to the following charges: conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and interstate transportation of stolen property with a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Figueroa was arrested on November 15, 2023, and is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for February 5, 2025. 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.
The investigation into this catalytic converter theft ring highlights the growing problem of catalytic converter theft in Connecticut. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across the state. Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, which can be sold for a significant profit.
Related Federal Cases
- ROBERTO ALICEA, Catalytic Converter Theft, Connecticut 2023 · Connecticut
- Domingo St. Hilaire Rosario, Vehicle Identity Theft, Connecticut 2021 · Connecticut
- Darryl Morris, Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Connecticut 2014 · Connecticut
- Mei Bao Lu, Access Device Fraud, Connecticut 2014 · Connecticut
- Angel L. Morales, Bank Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Bank Fraud, New York 2019 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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