Crew leader who stole 500 catalytic converters worth $2 million sentenced

The leader of a regional organized theft crew that orchestrated the theft of catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles across the region, multiple jewelry store robberies and the theft of bank ATMs has been sentenced in federal court in Boston.

Rafael Davila, aka “Robbin Hood,” of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Davila was also ordered to pay approximately $157,000 in restitution and perform 75 hours of community service at a food pantry.

Law enforcement officials said there has been a “precipitous drop in catalytic converter thefts” in Massachusetts as a result of the dismantling — with nine reported incidents of catalytic converter theft in the past 18 months following the arrests, compared to hundreds of thefts reported during period of nine months before.

Davila was also ordered to forfeit a number of assets — including a Chevrolet Suburban, an Acura MDX, two motorcycles, six motorcycles and two motorcycles — that were acquired with the proceeds of crimes to which he pleaded guilty or were involved in money. washing conspiracy.

In April 2024, Davila pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce; interstate transportation of stolen property; conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank robbery; and bank robbery.

In April 2023, Rafael Davila was arrested and charged with six other people in connection with the theft, transportation and sale of stolen catalytic converters taken from nearly 500 vehicles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire between 2022 and April 2023. Officials believe they there were additional thefts. were never identified or reported to law enforcement.

Catalytic converter theft has become a problem because of the high-value precious metals they contain – some of which are more valuable than gold, with black market prices exceeding $1,000 each in recent years.

Prosecutors said the crew was led by Davila, who engaged in catalytic converter thefts and burglaries full-time — committing thefts several nights a week for more than eight hours a night. The thefts resulted in losses of about $5,000 per vehicle, with some trucks costing more than $10,000 to repair. That amounts to about $2 million in losses to more than 300 separate victims, including businesses and individuals, food pantries, car companies, retailers, a bakery, single parents, a home health care provider and the elderly .

In addition to the catalytic converter thefts, Davila admitted to conspiring to steal from ATMs at federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions.

According to prosecutors, Davila also admitted to burglarizing two jewelry stores in New Hampshire in 2023 and stealing a trailer in 2022.

Rafael Davila is the fourth defendant convicted in the case. Three remaining co-defendants have each pleaded guilty and await sentencing, prosecutors said.

More than 70 local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut contributed to the investigation.

Source: US Attorney for Massachusetts

TOPICS
Lead