A member of the catalytic converter theft crew working out of western Massachusetts has pleaded responsible.
Zachary Marshall, both 25 or 26, of Holyoke, pleaded responsible to conspiracy to move stolen property in interstate commerce and interstate transportation of stolen property. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Feb. 7, 2024.
Marshall, was part of the seven-member crew the feds say stole catalytic converters from practically 500 autos throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire from final yr till their arrests on April 12, the fruits of “Operation Cut and Run,” a joint effort by federal regulation enforcement businesses, the Massachusetts State Police, and greater than 70 native police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Rafael “Robbin Hood” Davila, of Agawam, was the alleged chief of the entire operation that, within the phrases of then-FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta, “robbed catalytic converters out of hundreds of vehicles, under the cloak of darkness, in under 60 seconds, leaving virtually no community untouched.”
The crew is only one of many contributing to an enormous pattern in catalytic converter theft throughout the nation, owing to the excessive values of the dear metals contained inside the converters — these columns hooked up to an exhaust pipe used to scale back the emissions.
According to Monex — a bullion dealer primarily based in Newport Beach, Calif. — the spot worth on the day of the arrests for platinum was $1,027 an oz. and palladium was at $1,493 an oz., each lower than gold’s $2,027 per ounce worth on the time. But the actual valuable steel was rhodium, which many merchants listed at $7,000 or extra on the time.
The market was much less sizzling Tuesday, with platinum listed at at $919.40 per ounce and palladium at $1,051 per ounce. Money Metals Exchange listed rhodium at $4,400 per ounce.
Marshall is the fifth member to plead responsible.
Nicholas Davila, of Springfield, pleaded responsible first — forward of the particular arrests — on March 13. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9.
Jose “Goldy” Torres, of Springfield, pleaded responsible on May 17. The feds say he was a fence for the stolen converters, that means that he purchased them from this and different crews after which in flip bought them to scrap sellers all through the northeast for between $30,000 and $80,000 in income per week. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14.
Alexander “Dirty” Oyola, additionally of Springfield, pleaded responsible every week later to costs of ATM and jewellery retailer burglaries associated to the ring, although his sentencing has not but been scheduled. Santo Feliberty pleaded responsible on Oct. 19 and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 31.
Cases towards alleged chief Rafael Davila and alleged member Carlos “Charlito” Fonseca are nonetheless pending.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”