A Fresno man faces a decade in prison after being found guilty of running a multi-million dollar catalytic converter theft scheme.
George Thomas, 72, was convicted of selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters for over $2.7 million in total.
Driving the news: From January 2021 to November 2022, Thomas purchased stolen catalytic converters from a group of habitual thieves who regularly cut converters off of vehicles in the Fresno area.
- Thomas would purchase them in the parking lots of motels, gas stations and similar places at all hours of the day.
- He directed the thieves on which converters he was looking for and how to best cut them off vehicles. He also loaned them money to pay for motel rooms, saws and their bail. The loans were contingent on them continuing to steal converters for him.
- Law enforcement executed an initial search warrant at Thomas’ home in mid-2021, and Thomas continued with the sales afterward and tried to cover the scheme up. That included taking a photograph of the thief and an identification card each time he made a sale, requesting a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for the vehicle from which the converter was cut off and having the thief sign a paper stating that the converter was not stolen.
- Thomas did not actually change anything in the scheme, though, continuing to purchase the converters with cash from the same thieves.
- After purchasing the converters, Thomas drove them to Oregon and sold them to a metal recycling company for $2.7 million.
- The recycling company paid Thomas by wire transfer, which he withdrew through 386 cash withdrawals that were each under the $10,000 reporting threshold.
Go deeper: After Thomas was arrested in April 2023, reports of catalytic converter theft in the Fresno area decreased by over 60 percent.
What we’re watching: Thomas will be sentenced on Sep. 11 and faces 10 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine.
What they’re saying: “This collaboration exemplifies the power of teamwork between local and federal agencies in combating organized crime and ensuring justice for our community. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Deputy District Attorney Adam Kook for his initiative in engaging with federal authorities to drive a coordinated investigation in this case,” said Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. “Thanks to collaborate efforts of the agencies involved, the ringleader behind the catalytic converter theft operations across the Central Valley is now facing significant fines and jail time for his wrongdoing.”
- Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto said, “The Fresno Police Department is proud to have participated with our partners, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Clovis Police Department, in this investigation and successful prosecution. Mr. Thomas’ criminal actions impacted countless members of our communities, both financially and emotionally. Through solid investigations by officers and detectives and the determined prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Thomas will finally be held accountable.”
