California Family Pleads Guilty in $600M Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Scheme

Three members of a California family, including two brothers and their mother, have pleaded guilty to being part of a nationwide catalytic converter theft ring. The ring shipped stolen catalytic converters worth $600 million from California to New Jersey. The family members were part of a network of thieves, dealers, and processors who provided the stolen auto anti-smog devices to a metal refinery. They pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the devices and received over $38 million in return. One of the brothers also pleaded guilty to charges related to money laundering. Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise, with California accounting for 37% of theft claims nationwide.