Four of the defendants operate auto salvage businesses in Philadelphia and amassed more than $1 million in selling the converters, police said
Six men from Pennsylvania and New Jersey – four who operated auto salvage businesses in Philadelphia – have been arrested and charged for their participation in an organized catalytic converter theft ring that targeted parked cars in five counties for the past two years.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced Thursday morning the arrests of Sharief Louden, 30, of Philadelphia; Terrell Gibson, 40, of Chester; Loai Nassser, 49, of Cherry Hill, NJ; Ali Sayyam, 29, of Ocean, NJ; and Daniel McIlhenney, 37, and Ryan McIlhenney, 36, both of Folcroft, PA.
All six are charged with multiple felony counts of running a corrupt organization, theft of catalytic converters, receiving stolen property, theft of a secondary metal, and other offenses, authorities said.
At least two of the defendants made more than $1 million in selling the converters from their auto salvage business, authorities said.
The defendants were arraigned Sept. 18, 2023 by Magisterial District Judge Patrick Krouse, who set bail at $99,000 cash for both McIlhenneys and Nassar, 10% of $50,000 cash for Gibson, and $100,000 unsecured bail for Louden, according to the district attorney.
Daniel McIlhenney, 37, of Folcroft, Pa.
Ryan McIlhenney, 36, of Folcroft, Pa.According to authorities, the joint investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division began in 2022 when police saw a rise in thefts of catalytic converters in Montgomery and surrounding counties.
Thieves, police said, were targeting catalytic converters due to the increasing value of platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which are found in the devices.
During the height of Covid, prices for these precious metals were inflated, with rhodium, for example, selling for as much as $31,000 an ounce, police said. Now, the cost dropped drastically to $4,500 an ounce.
Authorities said members of the corrupt organization would steal the converters off vehicles parked in high-traffic areas, such as malls, shopping cent4ers, business parks, Philadelphia International Airport, Drexel University, and other locations.
Acting quickly, the alleged thieves would jack up a vehicle, cut out the converter and lower the vehicle in under two minutes.
Then, authorities said they took the stolen converters to salvage yards including two on 61st Street in Philadelphia, owned by four of the defendants: Big Head Auto Salvage, operated by both McIlhenneys, and Philly Auto Salvage, operated by Nasser and Sayyam.
Both salvage yards, per authorities, would then sell the catalytic converters to various outlets in New Jersey.
During 2023, Philly Auto Salvage amassed $1 million in converter sales, and Big Head Auto Salvage sold more than $300,000 in converter metals, according to authorities.
Loai Nasser, 49, of Cherry Hill, NJ
Sharief Louden, 30, of Philadelphia.
Terrell Gibson, 40, of Chester.“These organized theft crews were responsible for a large portion of the catalytic converter thefts in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region. They caused significant financial hardship for vehicle owners while undermining the safety of our communities,” said Steele. “By dismantling this theft ring, we are sending a clear message that this type of criminal activity and other organized theft rings in Montgomery and Delaware counties will be investigated and prosecuted aggressively.”
The investigation involved electronic, visual and fixed surveillance, call detail records, downloads of cell phone records, multiple interviews, and other forms of investigation, authorities said.
Nearly 20 law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation: Upper Gwynedd Township, Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Township, Lower Providence Township, East Norriton, Upper Merion Township, Springfield Township, West Norriton Township, Plymouth Township, Upper Dublin Township, Abington Township, Upper Moreland Township, and Philadelphia police departments; the Bucks County Detective Bureau; Pennsylvania State Police; Delaware River Port Authority Police; University of Delaware Police; Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force; and the FBI.
A preliminary hearing for all six is scheduled for Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. before Krouse.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Taft and Gwendolyn Kull, who is captain of the Economic Crimes Unit.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
