Member of Major Catalytic Converter Theft Crew Sentenced to More Than Three Years

A Springfield, Massachusetts man was sentenced last week in federal court in Boston for his role in a regional organized theft crew that stole catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles, robbed jewelry stores and stole banks automatic teller machines.

Nicolas Davila was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 37 months in prison and five years of supervised release, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

In October 2023, Davila pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The drug charge arose from cocaine found during the search of his residence as part of the catalytic converter theft investigation.

At sentencing, Davila was held accountable for thefts of catalytic converters from 42 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Decline in Thefts

Davila was a member of a crew allegedly led by his brother that utilized battery operated power-tools, car jacks to cut away and steal catalytic converters from vehicles across Massachusetts and into New Hampshire.

In April 2023, Davila was arrested and charged along with six others in connection with the theft, transportation and sale of stolen catalytic converters taken from at least 496 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 through April 2023 alone.

He is the fifth defendant to plead guilty in the case. In addition to the federal charges, Davila separately faces a pending murder indictment in Hampden County Superior Court, according to prosecutors. His brother has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.

According to court filings, there has been a decline in catalytic converter thefts reported in Massachusetts as a result of the April 2023 takedown – with only seven reported incidents over the past 11 months following the arrests, in comparison to the hundreds of thefts reported during the prior nine-month period.

Catalytic converter theft can be lucrative due to the high-valued precious metals they contain. The theft of a vehicle’s catalytic converter results in damage that renders the vehicle inoperable – both mechanically and legally under EPA regulations.

Thefts of catalytic converters have been driving auto insurance claims. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported there were 64,701 catalytic converter thefts in 2022, four times as many as in 2020. CCC Intelligent Solutions said its data shows that more than 70% of catalytic converter thefts were from cars seven or more years old. The average repairable catalytic converter claim had an average total cost of $1,415.

Theft Operation

According to prosecutors, the defendants targeted specific makes and models of vehicles to maximize the profits. The crew would travel hundreds of miles to specific locations, including home driveways and business parking lots. On numerous occasions, the crew targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night, with one night reporting thefts from 26 vehicles, prosecutors said.

As a result of the thefts, losses were determined to be approximately $5,000 per vehicle with certain trucks costing over $10,000 to repair. This amounts to an approximate $2 million in losses suffered by more than 300 separate victims including a food pantry, families, automotive businesses, tradesmen, a bakery, single parents, a home healthcare provider and the elderly, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said that once in possession of the stolen catalytic converters, the crew would then sell them to an accomplice, who would in turn sell them to scrap dealers – transacting approximately $30,000 to $80,000 in stolen catalytic converters per week.

Topics Fraud Massachusetts New Hampshire