California Man Gets 12 Years for Role in $38 Million Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

The Sacramento man worked with his brother and mother to move stolen catalytic converters from California to a buyer in New Jersey.

A new catalytic converter sits on the floor at Johnny Franklin's Muffler in San Rafael, Calif., on July 11, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A 33-year-old Sacramento man was sentenced May 6 to federal prison for his role in transporting thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines, laundering money, and other crimes.

Tou Sue Vang was given a 12-year sentence Tuesday for his part in a family-run theft ring, according to acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.

Prosecutors say Vang, along with his brother Andrew Vang and mother Monica Moua, bought stolen catalytic converters from local thieves and sold them to a buyer in New Jersey for more than $38 million.

“This defendant led a network of criminals that hurt thousands of innocent car owners,” Beckwith said in a statement Tuesday. “This case represents the kind of far-reaching investigation that federal, state, and local law enforcement partners can do when working together.”

Tou Vang, Andrew Vang, and Moua pleaded guilty Oct. 16, 2023, to conspiring to transport stolen converters from California to New Jersey. Tou Vang pleaded guilty to an additional 39 charges related to money laundering.

Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system that reduces toxic gas and pollutants from the engine. Stealing them has become popular nationwide because the converters are easy to remove, have no identifying markings, and can fetch more than $1,000 each, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.

Buyers want the precious metals inside, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, the last of which is more valuable per ounce than gold.

In 2022, about 1,600 catalytic converters were stolen in California each month, and the state accounts for 37 percent of all catalytic converter theft nationwide, according to federal officials.

Vehicles most often targeted in California are the Toyota Prius, Honda Element, Honda Accord, Ford Econoline, Honda CRV, Ford F-250, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Excursion, and Toyota Tacoma, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Tou Vang’s prosecution is part of a nationwide crackdown on catalytic converter theft.

His case includes his brother and mother, and 12 other defendants from New Jersey.

Deputy Jaime Moran from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department engraves a catalytic converter with a traceable number in City of Industry, Calif., on July 14, 2021. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Federal prosecutors say the defendants operated DG Auto and purchased the stolen converters from California.

Tou Vang and his family operated mostly from their private residences and storage units, according to federal officials. They did not have a scrapyard or a valid business license.

Some of the shipments Tou Vang made to DG Auto weighed over 1,000 pounds and contained a single type of high-value catalytic converter, such as the ones found in Toyota Prius cars.

Tou Vang and his family allegedly used the funds received from the New Jersey defendants to withdraw from bank accounts they controlled to buy more stolen catalytic converters.

Prosecutors claim Tou Vang spent the proceeds of converter sales to fund a lavish lifestyle. He allegedly purchased a five-acre multi-home complex in Rio Linda for $1.235 million in cash; over a dozen motor vehicles, including two Teslas and two Sea Doos; and another home in Sacramento.

As part of Tou Vang’s sentence, he forfeited more than $150,000 in cash, 13 motor vehicles, four personal watercraft, jewelry, real estate, and other property, according to federal prosecutors.

“This takedown is the first of its kind in the nation and a major step forward in dismantling a catalytic converter theft ring,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the Sacramento Field Office.