Sacramento Man Sentenced to 12 Years for $38 Million Catalytic Converter Theft Scheme

Tou Sue Vang, a 33-year-old Sacramento resident, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $38 million catalytic converter theft ring, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced.

Vang, alongside his brother Andrew Vang and mother Monica Moua, admitted to purchasing stolen catalytic converters from local thieves and selling them to a New Jersey buyer, DG Auto, operated by brothers Navin and Tinu Khanna.

Court documents reveal the family operated without a scrap yard or business license, using private residences and storage units to manage their illegal enterprise. They transported thousands of stolen converters across state lines, including high-value units from Toyota Priuses, with some shipments exceeding 1,000 pounds. The scheme, which involved 15 defendants across California and New Jersey, exploited the lack of identifying markings on catalytic converters, a crime that has surged nationwide due to the precious metals they contain, often more valuable than gold per ounce.

Vang laundered the proceeds to fuel a lavish lifestyle, purchasing a $1.235 million multi-home complex in Rio Linda, over a dozen vehicles including two Teslas, and other luxury items. As part of the sentence, authorities forfeited $150,000 in cash, 13 vehicles, jewelry, and real estate. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith emphasized the case’s significance, stating, “This defendant led a network that hurt thousands of innocent car owners. We’re committed to disrupting such conspiracies.”

The investigation, a collaborative effort involving the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and multiple local law enforcement agencies, marks the first nationwide takedown of a catalytic converter theft ring.

Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office called it “a major step forward,” crediting the partnership with Yolo and Sacramento counties for the operation’s success.

Sacramento Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for $38 Million Catalytic Converter Theft Ring https://t.co/UgB11s61Gf @FBISacramento

— FBI (@FBI) June 5, 2025