A 27-year-old man from New Haven, Mervin Figueroa, has received a 14-month federal prison sentence for his involvement in a catalytic converter theft ring. U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala handed down the sentence in Hartford, which includes three years of supervised release following imprisonment.
The investigation uncovered a network trafficking stolen catalytic converters in Connecticut. Catalytic converters, which contain valuable metals and are typically simple to remove from vehicles, are a lucrative target for theft. The prevailing scrap value of these components ranges between $300 and $1,500 based on model and metal type.
Key to the operation was Alexander Kolitsas, who ran Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC in East Hartford. Kolitsas, along with Figueroa and others, bought stolen converters, which were then sold to recyclers in New York and New Jersey. To maximize profits, Kolitsas advised suppliers on optimal converter types and conducted transactions in discreet locations including his Wolcott home and a family restaurant in Middlebury.
Kolitsas maintained records of his dealings from January to May 2022, buying stolen converters worth approximately $3.3 million from various sources, including Figueroa, for $169,840. Some converters were stolen from U-Haul Moving and Storage in Naugatuck, and in communications, Kolitsas instructed Figueroa to remove U-Haul's anti-theft tags before resale. School buses were also cited as sources of stolen converters.
Figueroa was apprehended on November 15, 2023, and later pled guilty to charges related to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property on October 29, 2024. He is currently free on a $50,000 bond and scheduled to report to prison on June 2.
Kolitsas has also confessed to related charges and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, and the East Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham. OCDETF is dedicated to dismantling criminal networks through a collaboration of law enforcement agencies at multiple levels.
Additional information about this program is available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
