Marc H. Silverman, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced that Alexander Kolitsas, 31, of Wolcott, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford. Kolitsas's conviction stems from his role in operating a catalytic converter theft and trafficking ring. In addition to his prison sentence, Kolitsas has been ordered to pay a $50,000 fine.
Court documents detail an investigation into the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles throughout Connecticut. These components contain valuable metals and are challenging to trace, making them appealing to thieves. Scrap prices for catalytic converters can range between $300 and $1,500, depending on the specific metals and models.
Kolitsas was the owner and operator of Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, located in East Hartford. From January 2021 to June 2022, he used this business to purchase stolen catalytic converters. He instructed his suppliers on the types that would yield the highest resale profit, often meeting them at his home or behind a family member’s restaurant. Records seized during the investigation revealed that Kolitsas's suppliers frequently sold him stolen converters valued at thousands of dollars weekly.
Beginning in January 2022, Kolitsas began using electronic invoices for the purchases made from his suppliers. These invoices sometimes recorded sales using fictitious names, masking the true source of the stolen items. Between January 26, 2022, and May 31, 2022, Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot paid over $3.3 million for these stolen converters.
Kolitsas sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey, with some transactions exceeding $200,000. A recycling business owner in New York noted that Kolitsas had received approximately $10 million in cash for these items.
Further investigation found that the profits from these illegal activities were used by Kolitsas to acquire a Ford Transit Van and other assets. He was arrested on August 24, 2022, and pleaded guilty on October 7, 2024, to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and promotional money laundering.
Judge Nagala also mandated the forfeiture of a Ford Transit Van, a 2016 Polaris Slingshot, $91,581 held in a Downpipe Depot bank account, and $75,127 in cash. These assets were initially seized in the investigation. Kolitsas, currently out on a $150,000 bond, will report to prison on July 14.
This comprehensive investigation included efforts 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. The case's prosecution is directed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. This program seeks to dismantle criminal operations through the cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies.
