Chicago men sentenced for Western Pa. catalytic converter theft ring

Three Chicago men were ordered Friday to serve up to 15 years in prison for operating what authorities said was one of the largest organized theft rings in Western Pennsylvania as they stole catalytic converters from parked vehicles in Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette counties.

“These three individuals terrorized the Western Pennsylvania community and (it) is one of the more sophisticated organized theft rings we’ve had here in Westmoreland County,” said Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr during Friday’s sentencing hearing. “This isn’t a mistake. These are three greedy people who did this for financial gain.”

The men, Christian Buie, 33, Antonio Dewayne Johnson, 43, and Harold T. Wade, 30, pleaded guilty in late June to multiple counts in four separate cases including conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief. Prosecutors dropped racketeering offenses as part of the plea deals.

Investigators said the men flew to the Pittsburgh region from Chicago and methodically targeted car dealerships in North Huntingdon and in North Fayette where they stole dozens of catalytic converters from new and used vehicles in late 2022 and early 2023. Police said the group also was responsible for similar thefts from a dealership in Moon and from vehicles parked on campus of Robert Morris University.

Catalytic converters, devices that help reduce exhaust emissions, are made of precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium. Authorities said the metals can sell for as much as $27,000 an ounce on the black market and cost about $1,000 each for vehicles owners to replace.

In all, catalytic converters were stolen from as many as 32 different victims totaling more than $400,000 in financial losses, Barr said.

“All these people who parked their cars on the streets lost money, insurance rates will go up and this will have a great effect beyond the victims. It affects us all. My insurance rate, your insurance rate, all insurance rates will increase,” Barr said.

The prosecution recommended each defendant serve at least seven years in prison.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ordered Buie, Johnson and Wade to serve five to 15 years in prison and ordered them to repay victims $304,000 in restitution.

Stewart Hinton IV, 38, of Chicago, the fourth member of the theft ring who prosecutors said participated in just one of the four cases, pleaded guilty in December to racketeering and other offenses and was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.

Charges against a fifth suspect, Maria D. Padilla, 38, of Chicago, remain pending. Prosecutors said Padilla has cooperated with authorities and is free on bail and living in Illinois. Police said Padilla rented four vehicles that the suspects used to get around the Pittsburgh region and purchased plane tickets for herself and the men to fly from Chicago to Washington, D.C., in November 2022.

Prosecutors said all three men sentenced Friday had lengthy criminal records, including a prior history of catalytic converter thefts from the Chicago area. Each told the judge they were remorseful for their actions.

Buie and Wade talked briefly about their poor upbringings, which led them into criminal activity. Johnson was the only one of the four men charged to admit his guilt when first contacted by police, prosecutors said

The judge said she was saddened by Johnson, the oldest member of the group whose background indicated a stable childhood and successful school record. She asked what led Johnson to a life of crime.

“The city of Chicago,” he responded.