Three Rhode Islanders are accused of stealing and selling hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars worth of catalytic converters.
The U.S. Attorney's Office identified the men as Luis Aceituno of Providence, Kuron Mitchell of Newport and Alberto Rivera of Cranston.
They allegedly stole the devices, which contain precious metals, from vehicles in neighborhoods and parking lots in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Prosecutors say in January 2022, the Cranston Police Department began tracking patterns surrounding the thefts of catalytic converters. A criminal group was later identified as allegedly being responsible for more than 7,000 stolen catalytic converters in Southern New England and in the greater Boston area, valued at more than $2.4 million. It is alleged that many of the stolen catalytic converters were sold to a Providence company (identified in court documents as Company 1) that recycles catalytic converters. Depending on the model and type of precious metal component, the average scrap price for catalytic converters ranged from $300 to $1,500.
Charges include interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy.
(Photo: Rhode Island US Attorney's Office)