The group targeted cars parked in shopping malls and business parks, as well as at Philadelphia International Airport and Drexel University.
In an effort to combat organized crime in the region, prosecutors in Montgomery and Delaware counties announced Thursday the dismantling of a major catalytic converter theft ring that spanned suburban Philadelphia counties. After a two-year investigation, a coordinated effort led to the arrest of five suspects and the issuance of an arrest warrant for a sixth suspect.
The defendants are Sharif Louden, 30, of Philadelphia, Daniel McIlhenny, 37, and Ryan McIlhenny, 36, both of Folcroft; Terrell Gibson, 40, of Chester and Loai Nasser, 49, of Cherry Hill. An arrest warrant has been issued for Ali Sayyam, 29, of Ocean Township, New Jersey.
The defendants face numerous criminal charges, including institutional corruption, theft of catalytic converters, receiving stolen property and theft of recycled metals.
The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Delaware County Bureau of Criminal Investigation began a joint investigation in 2022 in response to a spike in catalytic converter thefts this year, prosecutors said.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, which have become prime targets for thieves as metal prices have soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the epidemic, rhodium prices peaked at around $31,000 an ounce but have since fallen to around $4,500 an ounce.
Prosecutors said gang members would target vehicles parked in high-traffic areas, including shopping malls and business parks, as well as at Philadelphia International Airport and Drexel University. The thefts typically happen within minutes, with crews jacking up the vehicle and disabling the converter before lowering it and fleeing the scene.
The stolen converters were then sold to a Philadelphia junkyard. Prosecutors charged Big Head Auto Salvage, operated by Daniel and Ryan McIlhenny, and Philadelphia Auto Salvage, operated by Nasser and Sayyam; Prosecutors said Philly Auto Salvage sold more than $1 million worth of converters in 2023, and Big Head Auto Salvage had more than $300,000 in sales.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced the arrests at a joint news conference Thursday morning.
“These organized gangs of thieves are responsible for the majority of catalytic converter thefts in southeastern Pennsylvania,” Steele said. “They cause serious financial hardship to vehicle owners as well as undermine the safety of our communities. By dismantling this gang of thieves, we are sending a clear message that this type of criminal activity and other serious crimes in Montgomery and Delaware Counties are organized theft rings. thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, Stollsteimer described the “trail of fear” the catalytic converter theft left in the community.
”By working together, law enforcement has stopped and removed this dangerous gang of thieves from our streets and hope to restore calm in the knowledge that such lawlessness will not be tolerated,” he said.
Police used electronic and visual surveillance, cell phone records, interviews and other investigative techniques to ultimately arrest the suspect. About 20 local police departments are involved in the investigation, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI.
Post time: Aug-13-2024