{"id":2070971,"date":"2023-10-17T20:37:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T00:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californians-plead-guilty-in-600-million-nationwide-catalytic-converter-theft-scheme\/"},"modified":"2023-10-17T20:43:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T00:43:40","slug":"californians-plead-guilty-in-600-million-nationwide-catalytic-converter-theft-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californians-plead-guilty-in-600-million-nationwide-catalytic-converter-theft-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Californians admit guilt in $600M nationwide catalytic converter theft plot."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornians-plead-guilty-in-600-million-nationwide-catalytic-converter-theft-scheme%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2070971&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>SACRAMENTO Family Pleads Guilty\u2064 to $600 Million Catalytic Converter Theft Ring<\/h2>\n<p>Three members of a California \u2064family\u200b have admitted their involvement in a massive theft ring that transported stolen catalytic converters worth $600 million from California to New Jersey, according to federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d guilty parties, \u200dbrothers \u2062Tou Sue Vang, \u206432, and Andrew Vang, 28, along with\u200b their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were part of \u200ca nationwide network\u200b of thieves, dealers, and processors. They supplied the stolen anti-smog devices\u200b to a metal refinery, earning over $600 million in the process.<\/p>\n<p>A total of 21 individuals from California and New Jersey have been charged in connection with this case. The Sacramento family members pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the stolen devices and received more than $38 million \u200bin return.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related\u200d Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal-5509377?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">New \u2064California Law Makes Possessing\u2062 9 or More Catalytic Converters Illegal<\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/12\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal-5509377?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n          <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n          <\/picture>\n        <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-4 sm:line-clamp-3\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/oakland-police-ask-residents-not-to-confront-auto-break-in-thieves-5505886?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-sm sm:text-base\">Oakland Police Ask Residents\u200b Not to Confront Auto Break-In Thieves<\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">10\/7\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[70px] sm:basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/oakland-police-ask-residents-not-to-confront-auto-break-in-thieves-5505886?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">\n          <picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" https:><\/source><source type=\"image\/*\" https:><\/source>\n          <\/picture>\n        <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tou Sue Vang, in addition to the conspiracy charge, pleaded guilty \u2062to 39 counts of money\u2064 laundering, as stated by prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p>Catalytic converters, which contain valuable precious metals like platinum, are frequently targeted by thieves due to their easy accessibility. The U.S. attorney&#8217;s office highlighted that some of these metals are more valuable per ounce than \u2063gold, and their worth has been steadily rising in recent years.\u200b The black-market \u2063price for catalytic converters can exceed $1,000 each.<\/p>\n<p>California alone accounts for 37 percent of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-announces-267-million-in-grants-to-stop-retail-theft\/\" title=\"Newsom allocates 7M grants to combat retail theft.\">catalytic converter theft<\/a> claims nationwide, with approximately 1,600 reported stolen every month, according to federal prosecutors.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How did \u2062the Sacramento family\u2063 play a significant role in the catalytic converter theft operation?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ochtimes.com<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californians-plead-guilty-in-600-million-nationwide-catalytic-converter-theft-scheme\/\" title=\"Californians admit guilt in 0M nationwide catalytic converter theft plot.\">\/world-news\/china-newstones-catalytic-converter-id-theft_3781956<\/a>.html?ea_src=related_stories&#038;ea_med=related_stories-_17&#8243; target=&#8221;_blank&#8221;><\/p>\n<p>          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2022\/01\/catalytic-converter-theft-ring-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"w-full h-auto mb-2\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-[13px] leading-[16px]\">Chinese \u200cPolice Bust \u200dCatalytic \u2063Converter Theft Ring, Seize 500 Stolen Devices<\/div>\n<p>        <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The theft ring primarily targeted older model cars, \u2064as their\u2063 catalytic converters contain a higher concentration of precious metals such \u200bas \u2062platinum, palladium, and \u2063rhodium. The stolen devices were then transported across the country to be sold to metal recyclers and refiners.<\/p>\n<p>Catalytic converters\u2062 are a crucial component of a vehicle&#8217;s exhaust system, reducing harmful emissions and converting them\u200d into less toxic substances. The\u2062 increasing demand for\u2063 precious metals, particularly from countries like China, has led to a rise in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/life-without-parole-resentencing-bill-stalls-in-california-legislature\/\" title=\"California Legislature stalls Life Without Parole Resentencing Bill.\">catalytic converter thefts<\/a> worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>This case sheds light on the \u200dextent and\u2062 sophistication of the catalytic converter theft industry. \u2063The thieves used specialized \u2063tools\u200c to remove the devices quickly and efficiently,\u2064 often targeting multiple vehicles in one \u200dnight. The stolen converters\u2064 were then sold \u200dto middlemen who would transport them to metal recyclers and refineries for hefty profits.<\/p>\n<p>The role of the Sacramento \u2062family\u200b \u2062was crucial in this entire operation, as \u200bthey supplied a significant portion of the stolen catalytic converters to the metal refinery. Their involvement in the theft ring allowed them to amass over $600 million in profits. However, their illicit activities\u2063 eventually caught up with them,\u200c leading to their arrest and subsequent guilty pleas.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors have described the case as one of the\u200d largest catalytic\u200b converter\u2064 theft operations in history. The stolen converters \u2063were \u200cestimated to be worth $600\u200d million, \u200dhighlighting\u2064 the scale of the operation and the enormity of\u2062 the financial loss suffered by car owners and insurance\u2063 companies.<\/p>\n<p>Law \u200denforcement agencies are working diligently to combat catalytic converter\u2064 thefts. New legislation has been introduced in \u200bmany\u200d states to regulate the sale and possession of \u200dthese stolen devices. The aim is\u2062 to make it more difficult for thieves to \u2064profit from their illicit activities and deter future thefts.<\/p>\n<p>This case serves\u2062 as \u200ba warning to would-be thieves\u200d and members of theft rings involved in\u2064 catalytic converter theft. \u2062Law enforcement agencies\u2064 are actively investigating these crimes \u2064and are\u2064 determined\u200c to bring\u2064 the responsible \u200bparties\u2063 to justice.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, \u200bcar owners are advised to take precautions\u2062 to protect their \u200cvehicles from catalytic converter theft. Parking in\u200c well-lit areas, \u2062installing surveillance cameras, and marking the converters with unique identifiers can help deter thieves and aid in the recovery of stolen\u2064 devices.<\/p>\n<p>The guilty pleas of\u200d the Sacramento family members send a strong\u2062 message that illegal activities will not go unpunished. The theft of catalytic converters not only causes financial losses but also\u2062 negatively impacts the environment, \u200bas the stolen devices are often disposed of improperly,\u2064 releasing\u200c harmful pollutants\u2063 into the air.<\/p>\n<p>As the investigation into this \u200bcatalytic converter theft ring continues, authorities hope\u2064 to\u2062 dismantle the entire network and bring all individuals involved to justice. This case serves as a reminder that organized theft rings pose a significant threat to society and\u200d must be dealt with\u200c firmly and swiftly.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-charged-after-human-trafficking-bust-in-chicago-area\/\" title=\"5 Arrested in Chicago Area Human Trafficking Operation\">law enforcement \u2063agencies<\/a> and the public to remain vigilant and report \u200bany suspicious activities related to catalytic converter thefts. By working together, we can combat this growing problem and protect our communities from the impact of such crimes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California family pleaded guilty to conspiracy for shipping $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey. Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, and their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were involved in the illegal operation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":2070972,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2070971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2070971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2070971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2070971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2070972"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2070971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2070971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2070971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}