SACRAMENTO — Three members of a California household pleaded responsible Monday to conspiracy for his or her function in a hoop that shipped $600 million price of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, federal prosecutors mentioned.
Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, together with their mom, Monica Moua, 58, had been a part of “a nationwide community of thieves, sellers, and processors” who offered the stolen auto anti-smog units to a metallic refinery for greater than $600 million, in line with an announcement from the U.S. legal professional’s workplace.
Twenty-one folks from California and New Jersey have been charged within the case, prosecutors mentioned. The three Sacramento members of the family pleaded responsible to conspiring to move the units in return for greater than $38 million.
Tou Sue Vang additionally pleaded responsible to 39 costs associated to cash laundering, prosecutors mentioned.
Catalytic converters are simply stolen and comprise treasured metals together with platinum.
“A few of these treasured metals are extra priceless per ounce than gold, and their worth has been growing lately,” the U.S. legal professional’s workplace mentioned. “The black-market worth for catalytic converters may be above $1,000 every.”
California accounts for 37% of catalytic converter theft claims nationwide, with about 1,600 reported stolen every month, federal prosecutors mentioned.
