Nicolas Davila, Catalytic Converter Theft, Massachusetts 2023

BOSTON — A Springfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a regional organized theft crew that stole catalytic converters from over 470 vehicles, robbed jewelry stores and stole ATMs.

Nicolas Davila, 25, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The drug charge arises from cocaine found during the search of Nicolas Davila’s residence as part of the catalytic converter theft investigation.

U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 9, 2024.

Davila and six other men were arrested on April 12, 2023, and charged with offenses related to the theft, transportation and sale of stolen catalytic converters taken from over 470 vehicles during 2022 and 2023.

Catalytic converter theft has become a nationwide problem across a multitude of state, local, and federal jurisdictions due to the high-valued precious metals they contain – some of which are more valuable than gold, with black-market prices being more than $1,000 each in recent years. The theft of a vehicle’s catalytic converter results in damage that renders the vehicle inoperable – both mechanically and legally under EPA regulations.

Nicholas Davila was a member of an organized crew that allegedly stole catalytic converters from at least 471 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 and 2023 alone. It is believed that a significant number of additional thefts have not been identified or were not ever reported to law enforcement.

According to court documents, the crew was skilled and able to locate and cut away the catalytic converter from a vehicle within a minute in most instances – often utilizing battery-operated power-tools, car jacks. It is alleged that, on numerous occasions, the defendants targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night, with one night reporting thefts from 26 vehicles.

Once in possession of the stolen catalytic converters, the crew would then sell them to Jose Torres, who would accumulate stolen catalytic converters from multiple theft crews and then in turn sell them to scrap dealers in the Northeast – transacting approximately $30,000 to $80,000 in stolen catalytic converters per week. In particular, Torres sold stolen catalytic converters to scrap dealers who have since been charged federally for interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering in the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of California and Northern District of Oklahoma.

The charge of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of interstate transportation of stolen property each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

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