CHICAGO — An Aurora man has been sentenced to three years in prison for orchestrating a bold string of catalytic converter thefts across eight counties in northern Illinois — a costly crime wave that left dozens of residents and businesses footing steep repair bills.
Octavio Goytia, 29, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated possession of a motor vehicle and was sentenced this week by Cook County Judge Margaret O’Connell. He was also ordered to pay $31,500 in restitution to victims.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the sentence, calling it the result of a multi-agency investigation spanning two years and involving multiple state’s attorneys and police departments.
Targets Across Chicagoland
Between August 2021 and March 2022, Goytia and his accomplice — Pedro Villegas-Mendoza, 24 — targeted vehicles in the following counties:
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Cook
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DuPage
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Kane
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Will
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DeKalb
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Lake
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McHenry
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Winnebago
Using jacks and saws, the men stole over 35 catalytic converters, often during daylight hours, before reselling the valuable parts for profit. Villegas-Mendoza was previously sentenced to six years in prison in 2024.
Why Catalytic Converters?
Catalytic converters are critical to vehicle emissions systems and contain small amounts of platinum, palladium, and rhodium — precious metals that fetch high prices on the black market. Their removal:
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Disables emissions filtering
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Can cost $1,000+ in repairs
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Leaves vehicles releasing toxic pollutants
“While a vehicle can still operate without a catalytic converter, it releases dangerous gases into the air,” Raoul said. “This case shows the value of coordination between law enforcement across jurisdictions.”
Charges and Legal Outcome
Originally, Goytia faced:
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36 counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle
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36 counts of burglary
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2 counts of theft over $10,000
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1 count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle
But he reached a plea deal that focused on the most serious charge. Under Illinois law, stealing a catalytic converter qualifies as stealing a critical vehicle component — making it prosecutable under stolen vehicle statutes.
Catalytic Theft: A Growing Threat
Raoul emphasized that catalytic converter crews are increasingly organized, mobile, and dangerous — often willing to carry weapons and travel across state lines.
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In Oregon, a $22 million theft ring was busted for trafficking 44,000 catalytic converters across six states.
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In 2023, a Chicago crew was caught stealing $200,000 worth from Pittsburgh car dealerships.
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One lot reported 35 stolen parts from Mitsubishi Outlanders, with $124,000 in damages.
What Can Be Done?
Has your neighborhood been hit by catalytic converter thieves? Do you think Illinois should increase penalties or create a vehicle component registry? Join the discussion now on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
