Rio Linda, CA – A Northern California man, Tou Sue Vang, 33, whose lavish lifestyle included a $1.2 million cash purchase of a five-acre multi-home compound in Rio Linda, was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in federal prison. Vang was the ringleader of a sophisticated, family-run catalytic converter theft operation that prosecutors say netted an estimated $38 million by trafficking stolen auto parts across the country.
According to court documents and statements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Vang, his brother Andrew Vang, and their mother Monica Moua, orchestrated a scheme to purchase stolen catalytic converters from local thieves, referred to as “cutters.” These stolen parts were then shipped from California to DG Auto, a New Jersey company run by brothers Navin and Tinu Khanna. The Khanna brothers, who have also been charged, would then have the precious metals within the converters extracted and sold. Some individual shipments reportedly weighed over 1,000 pounds and often contained high-value converters, such as those from Toyota Prius models, which can fetch over $1,000 each on the black market due to the valuable precious metals they contain – sometimes more valuable per ounce than gold.
The illicit proceeds from this enterprise funded an extravagant lifestyle for Vang. Besides the Rio Linda compound, he also acquired another property in Sacramento and a fleet of over a dozen vehicles, including two Teslas and two Sea-Doo personal watercraft. As part of his sentencing, the U.S. government has moved to forfeit over $150,000 in cash, 13 vehicles, four personal watercraft, jewelry, and real estate, including the Rio Linda property.
It is alleged that between November 2019 and June 2022, they purchased many cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles with their gains. These include:
- 2020 Toyota RAV4
- 2019 Toyota Highlander
- 2020 Ford F-250
- 2021 Tesla Model S
- 2021 Tesla Model 3
- 2000 Acura NSX
- 2013 Subaru BRZ
- 2020 Toyota Tundra
- Two 2021 SeaDoo’s
Federal authorities stated that the Vang family operated their illegal business out of homes and storage units without a valid business license, utilizing falsified shipping manifests and strategic bank withdrawals to launder their profits. In 2023, Tou Sue Vang, his brother, and his mother all pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to the theft ring. Vang also pleaded guilty to an additional 39 money-laundering charges. His brother and mother are currently awaiting sentencing.
The investigation and takedown of this operation were described by FBI Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel as “the first of its kind in the nation and a major step forward in dismantling a catalytic converter theft ring.” Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith emphasized the impact of the crimes, stating, “This defendant led a network of criminals that hurt thousands of innocent car owners.” She further highlighted the collaborative effort of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in bringing the Vang ring to justice.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that catalytic converter theft has become a prevalent issue nationwide due to the value of the parts, their relative ease of theft, and the lack of identifying markings. This particular case was part of a broader federal initiative targeting organized catalytic converter theft and was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from numerous California law enforcement departments such as the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and the Sacramento Police Department.
