California Family's $38M Catalytic Converter Theft Scheme
Three members of a California family, Tou Sue Vang, Andrew Vang, and Monica Moua, have pleaded guilty to participating in a nationwide catalytic converter theft conspiracy. They admitted to transporting stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey in exchange for over $38 million in wire payments. The converters were sold to a metal refinery that extracted and sold the precious metal powders for over $600 million. The Vangs and Moua operated an unlicensed business from their Sacramento home, purchasing stolen converters and shipping them to New Jersey. They face up to five years in prison and hefty fines.