HARTFORD, CT – Theodore Roosevelt Owens, 22, of Hartford, is facing a potential decade-plus prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from a stolen handgun and his involvement in a lucrative catalytic converter theft ring. The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams, brings a grim chapter to a case that exposed a network of criminals profiting from stolen vehicle parts and illegal firearms.
According to court documents, Vernon Police snagged Owens in a hotel parking lot on October 21, 2021, while serving outstanding warrants. A subsequent investigation revealed a loaded Zigana, Model PX-9 G2, 9mm pistol in his possession – a weapon he knew, or had reason to believe, was stolen. The firearm was traced back to a brazen theft of 50 identical pistols from an R&L Carriers warehouse in South Windsor back in August 2021. Alongside the stolen gun, officers found approximately five grams of crack cocaine on Owens.
But the gun wasn’t Owens’ only illicit enterprise. Investigators uncovered evidence linking him to a sophisticated scheme involving the theft and resale of catalytic converters – crucial emissions control devices ripped from under vehicles. Between September 24 and October 17, 2021, Owens allegedly sold a co-conspirator $26,320 worth of stolen converters. The operation wasn’t confined to Connecticut; the co-conspirator transported the stolen goods to businesses in New York and New Jersey for further resale and profit, extending the reach of the criminal activity.
Owens has been held without bail since his arrest, and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for unlawful possession of a stolen firearm. He’s also looking at up to five years behind bars for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. While a sentencing date hasn’t been set, the combined potential sentence could keep Owens incarcerated for a significant period. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Vanessa Roberts Avery, is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was a joint effort, highlighting the collaborative nature of federal law enforcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) took the lead on the firearm aspect, working alongside the South Windsor and East Hartford Police Departments. The catalytic converter angle was investigated by the ATF, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and again, the East Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham are handling the prosecution.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of criminal activity. A stolen gun, a thriving theft ring, and interstate trafficking – all woven together, fueled by greed and disregard for the law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing, and will report any further developments.
Related Federal Cases
- Theodore Roosevelt Owens, Gun & Converter Theft, Hartford CT, 2023 · Connecticut
- Theodore Roosevelt Owens, Gun Theft, Hartford CT, 2021 · New York
- ROBERTO ALICEA, Catalytic Converter Theft, Connecticut 2023 · New York
- Bryant Bermudez, Converter Theft, East Hartford CT, 2023 · Connecticut
- Angel L. Morales, ID Theft and Bank Fraud, NY 2024 · Florida
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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