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New Haven County resident Francisco Ayala, age 22, of Ansonia, was sentenced to 2-and-half years in federal prison after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy, said Vanessa Roberts Avery, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Once released, he will serve three years of probation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that Ayala engaged in numerous catalytic converter thefts throughout Connecticut, and he was caught on surveillance video stealing converters from two vans at a business in Stratford in 2022.
Between Dec. 2021 and May 2022, Ayala and an associate sold approximately $150,000 worth of stolen catalytic converters to a co-conspirator who transported the converters to other businesses, including businesses in New York and New Jersey, for further resale and profit, court documents show.
A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.
In April, Ayala pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
He has been detained in state custody for unrelated theft offenses since May 2022.
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