A mechanic points out a catalytic converter on July 1, 2022, as he talks about the rise of converter theft in Oklahoma City.
Sacramento, California – A Northern California man who led a massive catalytic converter theft ring that stretched from the West Coast to New Jersey was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in federal prison, capping a multimillion-dollar crime spree that prosecutors say victimized thousands of car owners across the country.
Tou Sue Vang, 33, of Sacramento, was convicted for his role in a sophisticated operation that netted over $38 million by trafficking stolen catalytic converters. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Vang, along with his brother Andrew Vang and mother Monica Moua, purchased stolen parts from local thieves and then shipped them to a metal refinery in New Jersey that extracted and sold valuable precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
“These thefts caused real harm to everyday Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. “This case shows what’s possible when law enforcement agencies work together across jurisdictions to dismantle organized criminal operations.”
Court documents reveal that Vang used the illicit proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the $1.2 million cash purchase of a five-acre, multi-home compound in Rio Linda, another property in Sacramento, two Teslas, and several personal watercraft. Vang acquired more than a dozen vehicles and stored thousands of stolen converters in private residences and storage units — operating without a scrap yard or a business license.
Authorities also discovered that the Vang operation used a pricing app to track real-time market values of catalytic converters based on vehicle make and model, allowing them to maximize profits with each transaction. Shipments of stolen converters often exceeded 1,000 pounds and were discreetly moved from California to the East Coast.
Vang must forfeit more than $150,000 in cash, 13 vehicles, four personal watercraft, high-end jewelry, and multiple properties as part of his sentence.
The sentencing is part of a broader federal crackdown on catalytic converter theft, which has surged in recent years due to the high value of the metals inside. In total, 15 people — including 12 from New Jersey — have been indicted nationwide.
Officials say the sentencing sends a strong message to organized criminal networks: high-tech, high-profit schemes that target average citizens will face the full force of federal prosecution.
