Man faces felonies, deportation in Utah catalytic converter theft case
Oct 21, 2022, 3:55 PM | Updated: Nov 7, 2022, 4:08 pm
(Utah Attorney General's Office)
SALT LAKE CITY — A 47-year-old man is facing felony charges related to an “extensive” catalytic converter theft and fencing case in Utah that affected hundreds of people.
According to a Friday afternoon release from the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Omar Martinez is now in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he was arrested this week by Taylorsville police officers.
Following his arrest, Martinez, who is also being investigated for immigration violations, was charged by the AG’s Office with three second-degree felonies, including theft by receiving stolen property, money laundering, and pattern of unlawful activity.
KSL Investigators Goes Undercover To Check Compliance As Catalytic Converter Thefts Skyrocket
Park City and South Salt Lake police departments also assisted in the case.
“Investigation discovered Martinez used his own businesses — Del Sol Auto Recycling and El Sol Auto Sales — as a front for multiple sales of catalytic converters, many cut from cars in the community and selling them for profit as scrap metal. Charges indicate Martinez mixed legitimate catalytic converter sales and did most of his business in cash and without receipts,” the release stated.
The Attorney General’s Office said his business sold 3,556 converters to a recycling company for $915,230 in 423 transactions.