BOSTON (WWLP) – The leader of a major theft crew responsible for stealing catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Rafael Davila , 36, of Springfield, also known as “Robbin Hood,” was sentenced for orchestrating thefts totaling an estimated $2 million in losses.
Davila, who led a crew that targeted vehicles in over 100 communities, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to transport stolen property and money laundering. Along with his prison sentence, Davila was ordered to pay $157,000 in restitution and complete 75 hours of community service.
Davila’s theft ring stole catalytic converters, ATMs, and burglarized jewelry stores. Federal and state law enforcement agencies credit his arrest and the subsequent takedown of his crew with a dramatic decline in catalytic converter thefts across the region, dropping from hundreds of cases to just nine in the 18 months following his arrest.