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Leader of catalytic-converter theft ring gets ten years in federal prison
By adamg on Thu, 10/03/2024 - 11:10am
A Springfield man who orchestrated a ring of catalytic-converter thieves that operated across two states - including in Newton, Waltham and Needham - was sentenced this week to ten years in federal prison, the US Attorney's office reports, adding the arrests of ring members last year has meant a significant decrease in catalytic-converter thefts.
A precipitous decline in catalytic converter thefts has been reported in Massachusetts as a result of the takedown - with nine reported incidents of catalytic converter theft over the past 18 months following the arrests, in comparison to the hundreds of thefts reported during the nine-month period prior.
Rafael "Robbin Hood" Davila, 36, will also have to pay approximately $157,000 in restitution, 75 hours of community service at a food pantry and give up the Chevrolet Suburban, Acura MDX, two motorcycles, six dirt bikes and two jet skis the feds say he bought with proceeds from the sales of roughly $2 million of catalytic converters sawed off some 500 vehicles.
Davila pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; interstate transportation of stolen property; conspiracy commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit bank theft; and bank theft.
The evidence against him included notes he had taken on his criminal conspiracy.
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Comments
Chevrolet Suburban, Acura MDX
If stealing for a living wasn't a big enough clue of what a trashy loser Rafael "Robbin Hood" Davila is, what he spent the money on really drives the point home.
You mean he’s not your hero?
For disabling motor vehicles?
The sad thing is he’s getting 10 years for non violent property theft. But the classy Mercedes driving killer on Memorial Drive is probably still out there driving and likely won’t even do jail time.
I get your anger
I get your anger. That gets me too.
But read the article. Key word there is "US Attorney". This means this a federal issue and considering it was a crime ring, probably involved the FBI or some other federal agency which means the punishment is higher and probably not lenient.
Mercedes killer will appear in state court.
You don't fuck with the fed and if you do, you're be deep shit and they don't throw the book at you lightly. This is the fed.
State court... yeah they'll prob get a slap on the wrist. Our state judicial system is broken.
Point: Apples vs Oranges. These seem similar because its a crime but two different court systems.
I’m very familiar with state versus fed.
That’s irrelevant to my comment.
My comment is about social class, justice and who can afford it.
Wow. He got more time than
Wow. He got more time than the convict who got six to eight years for beating woman, then carving her face with a razor blade
Too Lenient
He should've received the maximum penalty for each charge. This is a criminal organization that stole from hundreds of people.
Good
Someone cut the cat off my mom’s Prius while she was in hospice care and my brother was using it to get back and forth between her apartment and his place.
You never know what someone else is going through so try being decent to each other.
Not enough
157k in restitution? Really? Good luck on that.
I have to ask, if he made 2million, where'd it go? Yes he bought cars and bikes and stuff but even at a guesstimate, this would put this around 450k. 1.5mil left to go. That money is somewhere........
And Good on catching this guy.. coworker in metrowest had his taken off his car earlier this year, so it was probably this guy or his associates.
Might have frittered it away
on vacations, parties, fancy restaurants, drugs/booze/other consumables. People can waste just massive amounts of money when they put their mind to it.