HARTFORD, Conn. — A New Haven man was sentenced in Hartford Wednesday to 14 months in prison for participating in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Michael “Eme El Colorado” Almodovar, 31, will have his prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release, prosecutors said.
According to court documents and statements, law enforcement is investigating the theft of stolen catalytic converters from vehicles throughout the state.
“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 release said. “The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.”
Prosecutors said that Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC, operating out of a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford, bought stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, Almodovar included. Downpipe Depot then took and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey, according to prosecutors.
After seizing business records, investigators discovered that between March 2022 and May 2022, Almodovar received $34,445 for stolen catalytic converters from Downpipe Depot.
Prosecutors said that in one incident, when Almodovar was stealing a catalytic converter from a car parked in a Milford lot, he was interrupted by a witness who took pictures of Almodovar on his cell phone.
According to prosecutors, Almodovar attacked the witness, smashed his car window and cut him with the saw he used to steal the converter before fleeing. The next day, Almodovar sold six converters to Downpipe Depot for $2,180.
Prosecutors said Almodovar was arrested on Nov. 28, 2023, and he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, and interstate transportation of stolen property, on March 27.
The investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division and the East Hartford Police Department.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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