converter

"But I had to buy the battery, the converter, and the cables myself – and pay for installation."

But the lucrative family enterprise was illegal and involved buying stolen catalytic converters in a scheme that made more than $38 million for the family, according to authorities.

Thomas then drove the converters out of California to a scrap metal shop in Oregon where he sold the converters for a total of $2.7 million.

When Johnny Wactor found people trying to steal his catalytic converter last May, one thief yelled ‘No!’ before his companion opened fire, a detective testified.

A suspect arrested earlier this month in connection with a fatal shooting during a catalytic converter theft in Inglewood is now facing federal charges for allegedly illegally reentering the United States after being deported.