PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Three Rhode Island men are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in stealing and selling thousands of dollars’ worth of catalytic converters, according to acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Charging documents allege that Kuron Mitchell, 25, of Newport; Alberto Rivera, 25, of Cranston; and Luis Aceituno, 27, of Providence, worked with others to target vehicles across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, then sold the stolen converters to a Providence-based recycling company.
The men are accused of canvassing neighborhoods and parking lots from January 2021 to November 2022 to find empty cars from which they could steal catalytic converters. Depending on the type and model, the average scrap price ranges from $300 to $1,500, according to the affidavit.
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During this time, Rivera allegedly sold 19 converters, earning more than $7,000, while Aceituno sold 2,128 converters to the Providence company, receiving nearly $700,000.
Aceituno is also accused of failing to report his earnings to the IRS for the 2021 and 2022 tax years, avoiding nearly $200,000 in taxes…