Sacramento Family Admits Involvement in $38M Crime Syndicate

Family Admits Cat Converter Theft Ring in CA

Three relatives admitted responsibility for a countrywide scheme designed to pilfer catalytic converters, the U.S. Department of Justice declared.

The people of focus within this circumstance are Tou Sue Vang (32), his younger sibling Andrew Vang (28), and their mom, Monica Moua (58). All three have confessed to transporting pilfered catalytic converters from California to New Jersey. For taking part in this prohibited deed, they gained wired payments that exceeded a fantastic $38 million. Tou Sue Vang has also conceded fault in 39 other indictments connected to money laundering.

Andrew Vang and Monica Moua currently confront a potential penalty of up to five years imprisonment each. However, the circumstances surrounding Tou Sue Vang’s case are more problematic. Having admitting guilt to a remarkable 40 charges, his accusations differ profoundly in terms of the maximum penalty allowable per count; from a hefty 20-year prison term, down to a meager minimum of 5 years.

Furthermore, these charges are linked with punishment penalties ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 per charge or an amount double to the financial gain or loss resulting from the said violations. The judiciary will decide the eventual sentences for the three persons in question, incorporating pertinent governing regulations and consenting to the Federal Penology Instructions, mulling over manifold aspects.

Emphasizing the escalating worth of these valuable metals, the US Attorney’s Office has shown that some are worth more per ounce than even gold. This is evidenced by the soaring selling price of catalytic converters in the black-market, often times reaching above a thousand dollars.

Makers have already initiated measures to thwart out catalytic converter robbers, such as in the Toyota Tacoma of 2024. At the same time, an aftermarket protector was presented with the new Prius, one of the most sought-after models by illegal catalytic converter thieves.

Federal prosecutors have divulged that 1,600 catalytic converter thefts are said to occur each month in the Golden State of California, equaling an astounding 37% of all claims submitted nationally.

This episode is part of a broader federal venture striving to take action against a nationwide criminal gang that was acquiring and dealing pilfered catalytic converters, causing 21 people across multiple states being detained. The plan unveiled a criminal web responsible for dealing with millions of dollars worth of stolen catalytic converters.