(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The State of Illinois has filed charges against two Aurora men for operating a catalytic converter theft operation across northern Illinois.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office said 22-year old Pedro Villegas-Mendoza and 28-year old Octavio Goytia were behind the thefts of dozens of catalytic converters from vehicles in eight counties across northern Illinois.
Goytia and Villegas-Mendoza were accused of jacking up vehicles and sawing off their catalytic converters in broad daylight. Prosecutors said the thefts happened in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Lake, DeKalb, McHenry and Winnebago Counties between August 2021 and March 2022.
Officials said catalytic converters contain elements of platinum, palladium and rhodium metals, which can be sold for a profile.
Bond for each man was set at $350,000. If convicted of the dozens of counts of burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle, they could face up to 15 years behind bars.
“While a vehicle can still operate without a catalytic converter, removing it will release toxic gases and pollutants into the air,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.
The next court date for Villegas-Mendoza and Goytia was set for Aug. 14.
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