FRESNO, Calif. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California) – On Friday, George Thomas, 72, formerly of Fresno and Clovis, was convicted of selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters, generating over $2.7 million in illegal profits. He was also convicted of structuring cash withdrawals to avoid federal reporting requirements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Thomas was found guilty of purchasing stolen catalytic converters from repeat offenders in the Fresno area between January 2021 and November 2022. These converters were typically cut from vehicles by thieves, with sales taking place in motel and gas station parking lots at all hours. Thomas not only bought the stolen converters but also instructed the thieves on which ones to target and how to remove them. Additionally, he loaned money for the thieves’ motels, tools, and bail, on the condition that they would continue their illegal activities.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Thomas transported the stolen catalytic converters to Oregon, where he sold them to a metal recycler for $2.7 million. To conceal his activities, Thomas structured his withdrawals into 386 separate cash transactions, each under the $10,000 threshold required for banks to report to the government.
In 2021, after a search of his home, Thomas attempted to cover up his operation by collecting fake documents and IDs from the thieves. However, he continued the illegal activity using the same methods and associates. His actions were part of a widespread catalytic converter theft operation that caused significant financial harm.
After Thomas’s arrest in April 2023, catalytic converter thefts in the Fresno area dropped by more than 60%, according to authorities. Thomas now faces significant legal consequences for his role in this large-scale theft operation.