Roberto Alicea, Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property, Connecticut 2023

NEW BRITAIN, CT – Roberto Alicea, 31, of New Britain, is headed to federal prison for more than four years after being sentenced Tuesday for his part in a sprawling catalytic converter theft operation that plagued Connecticut. U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala handed down a 54-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for the career criminal.

Alicea was a key cog in a network that systematically stripped catalytic converters – valuable for the precious metals they contain – from vehicles across the state. These converters, easily removed and notoriously difficult to trace, fetch anywhere from $300 to $1,500 on the scrap market, making them prime targets for thieves. The operation wasn’t about petty theft; between December 2021 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, based in East Hartford, cut Alicea checks totaling a staggering $540,000 for the stolen parts.

Downpipe Depot, according to investigators, acted as the central hub, purchasing stolen converters from Alicea and other thieves before shipping them off to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey. The scheme relied on the converters’ untraceable nature and the high profit margin, turning stolen car parts into a lucrative interstate trafficking operation. Federal investigators seized business records detailing the massive payments made to Alicea, solidifying the case against him.

This wasn’t Alicea’s first brush with the law. The 31-year-old boasts a lengthy rap sheet, including prior convictions for larceny, criminal trespass, property damage, assault with a firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon, and even fleeing from police. His history of criminal behavior clearly influenced the judge’s sentencing decision. Alicea has been locked up since his arrest on August 23, 2022, and pleaded guilty on June 13th to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.

The investigation, a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the East Hartford Police Department, highlights the growing problem of catalytic converter theft nationwide. The ATF has been increasingly focused on these crimes, recognizing their connection to larger criminal enterprises. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham prosecuted the case, bringing Alicea to justice.

While Alicea’s sentence sends a message, the investigation into Downpipe Depot and the wider network of thieves remains ongoing. Authorities are working to dismantle the entire operation and hold all those responsible accountable. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly ‘low-level’ crimes, like catalytic converter theft, can be part of sophisticated criminal networks with far-reaching consequences.

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