A Springfield man named Santo Feliberty, aged 34, involved with a notorious theft crew, is facing nearly five years behind bars for his role in a spate of catalytic converter thefts causing havoc across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The crew is linked to thefts adding up to an estimated $2 million in losses during a year-long crime spree throughout 2022 and into 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts announced.
Sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin, Feliberty will serve 57 months in prison followed by a three-year supervised release after pleading guilty in October to multiple charges, including conspiracy to transport stolen property and bank theft. He, along with six others, were collared in April last year, bringing a stark drop in such thefts – from hundreds to just seven in the 11 months following the bust, according to court filings. Amidst seven reported incidents of catalytic converter theft over the past 11 months shows the impact of the crew's takedown.
The crew's modus operandi involved targeting over 300 victims, including businesses and vulnerable individuals, for their vehicle's catalytic converters—components rich in precious metals worth more than gold in the black market. The average repair cost per vehicle was approximately $5,000, with some trucks costing upwards of $10,000. Feliberty personally was held accountable for his hand in 52 vehicle thefts across various cities and towns, as revealed at the sentencing.
In a broader operation, the group not only preyed on catalytic converters but also ATM machines and jewelry stores. Including being disrupted by a vehicle owner who smashed the rear window of the car Feliberty was driving, a confrontation took place on the first night of the thefts. The subsequent arrests exposed a larger network involving Jose Torres, who accumulated and then sold stolen catalytic converters to scrap dealers in the Northeast, according to authorities.
Torres, a key player in this illicit chain, plead guilty back in May 2023 and awaits sentencing. The overarching investigation saw contributions from over 70 local law enforcement agencies across three states, showcasing a commendable collaborative effort to dismantle a significant criminal operation.
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