Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced the sentencing of Yanquee Rodriguez, also known as "Yankster Rodriguez," a 28-year-old resident of West Hartford. Rodriguez received a sentence of 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a catalytic converter theft conspiracy.
The investigation into this theft ring revealed that catalytic converters, which contain valuable metals and are easy to remove from vehicles, have become targets for thieves. The scrap value for these converters ranges between $300 and $1,500 based on their model and metal content.
Authorities discovered that Alexander Kolitsas operated Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC in East Hartford. This business bought stolen catalytic converters from various thieves, including Rodriguez. These stolen parts were then sold to recycling companies in New York and New Jersey. Kolitsas advised suppliers on the most profitable types of converters and often conducted transactions at night or after hours at his home or a relative's restaurant.
Records showed that between January 2021 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Rodriguez $411,845 for catalytic converters. In total, more than $3.3 million was paid to Rodriguez and other suppliers during this period.
Rodriguez was arrested on November 15, 2023, and pleaded guilty on June 26, 2024, to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property charges. He is currently out on a $100,000 bond and must report to prison by May 19.
Kolitsas has also pleaded guilty to related charges and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham are prosecuting the case.
