A 47-year-old Salt Lake City man was arrested this week after authorities say he sold thousands of stolen catalytic converters to a recycling company for almost $1 million.
Omar Martinez has been charged in Third District Court with possession of stolen property, money laundering and a pattern of unlawful activity. Martinez is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Investigators found that Martinez used his own businesses Del Sol Auto Recycling and El Sol Auto Sales as fronts for the sale of stolen catalytic converters as scrap metal, a news release stated, which added that many of the parts had been cut from cars in the community.
The case represents “significant” financial loss for hundreds of Utahns in recent months, according to the release.
From August 2021 to August 2022, Martinez sold 3,556 catalytic converters to Natural Ventures Recycling for $915,230.00 in 423 transactions through his business Del Sol Auto Recycling, according to a probable cause statement.
The Crimes Against Statewide Economy Unit caught Martinez after two other alleged thieves told police that they would sell stolen catalytic converters to him.
In order to help prevent the theft of catalytic converters, the Unified Police Department is teaming up with Jiffy Lube to engrave vehicle identification numbers on catalytic converters in private cars for free.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/TXqflkQ
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