An image from court documents detailing text messages between Francisco Ayala and Alexander Kolitsas.
ANSONIA — A 22-year-old Ansonia man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in an organized ring stealing catalytic converters all over the state.
Prosecutors said Francisco Ayala was one of several thieves who stole the devices from vehicles and supplied them to Alexander Kolitsas, the owner and operator of Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC. Kolitsas advertised his business as a secondhand dealer and recycler of scrap metal — but the government said he had no licenses and permits.
The business was a criminal front, prosecutors said, that purchased stolen catalytic converters from guys like Ayala and sold the devices for a profit to recycling centers in New York and New Jersey.
Court documents allege Kolitsas paid more than $3.3 million between January and May of 2022 to purchase stolen catalytic converters — and was allegedly paid at least $10 million to sell them to businesses in New York and New Jersey.
The federal case against Kolitsas, which started after police in Vernon arrested one of his suppliers on unrelated charges, is pending.
Ayala’s role as a catalytic converter thief was revealed in March 2022, when Stratford police connected him to the theft of catalytic converters from two Nissan vans in a parking lot. After Ayala was arrested on a bunch of outstanding warrants, police found a series of text messages between Ayala and Kolitsas detailing their illegal business dealings.
Law enforcement also recovered electronic invoices from Kolitsas detailing his payments to Ayala. The invoices cover January 2022 to May 2022, but prosecutors indicated that communication between the two men dates back to 2021.
Court documents allege Ayala received more than $150,000 for his role as a supplier.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
Ayala was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford. In addition to 30 months, Ayala will be on probation for three years.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.
