WHITE PLAINS, NY (December 28, 2022) — A 24-count indictment of five men was handed down by a Westchester County Grand Jury in connection with the countywide theft of 56 van and bus catalytic converters with a fair market value of more than $50,000. The year-long investigation, conducted by 13 law enforcement agencies, led to a coordinated takedown of the five men alleged to have participated in the five-month stealing spree.
Arrests and Charges:
Timothy Jimenez, age 24, of New Rochelle, NY
- 6 x Grand Larceny – 3rd, D felonies
- 6 x Auto Stripping – 1st, D felonies
- 3 x Grand Larceny – 4th, E felonies
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 3rd, a D felony
- 3 x Auto Stripping – 3rd, A misdemeanors
Christian Ancrum, age 23, of New Rochelle, NY
- 2 x Grand Larceny – 3rd, D felonies
- 2 x Auto Stripping – 1st, D felonies
- 3 x Grand Larceny – 4th, E felonies
- 3 x Auto Stripping – 3rd, A misdemeanors
Jason Vargas, age 19, of New Rochelle, NY
- 3 x Grand Larceny – 3rd, D felonies
- 3 x Auto Stripping – 1st, D felonies
- Grand Larceny – 4th, an E felony
- Auto Stripping – 3rd, an A misdemeanor
Joealen Garcia, age 31, of Orlando, FL
- 2 x Grand Larceny – 3rd, D felonies
- 2 x Auto Stripping – 1st, D felonies
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 3rd, a D felony
Nicholas Luzardi, 23, of New Rochelle, NY
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property – 3rd, a D felony
Jimenez, Vargas and Luzardi were arraigned in Westchester County Court on December 22, 2022. Ancrum is scheduled to be arraigned on January 5, 2023. Garcia will be arraigned following his arrest.
What they are saying:
Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah: “This case sends a clear message that Westchester County is cracking down on catalytic converter thefts, a nationwide scourge plaguing car owners with thousands of dollars in replacement costs and damages. I applaud the efforts taken by the criminal investigators in my Office and all of our law enforcement partners in continuing to protect Westchester residents and businesses from fraud and theft.”
Police narrative;
The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office initiated the investigation with the Briarcliff Manor Police Department, the Greenburgh Police Department, the New Rochelle Police Department, and the Pelham Manor Police Department, which identified Timothy Jimenez, 24, Christian Ancrum, 23, and Jason Vargas, 19, all of New Rochelle, and Joealen Garcia, 31, of Orlando, Florida, as the individuals who allegedly participated in the theft of a total of 56 catalytic convertors from Ford Econoline vans, Royal Coach Lines buses, and school buses in Briarcliff, Greenburgh, Peekskill, Pelham, and Yonkers on 11 different occasions between November 21, 2021 and March 28, 2022. At least 42 of the stolen catalytic converters were recovered in a Bronx scrap yard.
The investigation also identified a fifth defendant, Nicholas Luzardi, 23, of New Rochelle, who is alleged to have been in possession of stolen catalytic convertors in Pelham Manor on January 28, 2022.
Assisting in the investigation were the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the North Castle Police Department, the Peekskill Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey.
Why catalytic converters are stolen:
Stolen catalytic converters carry a resale value averaging $300 each at scrap yards, and up to $1,000 on the black market, for the precious metals they contain, such as palladium, platinum and rhodium. Larger vehicles, trucks and SUVs are often targeted because the larger-sized catalytic converters carry higher values, and because the height of the vehicle from the ground allows for easier access to steal the catalytic converters.
The case is before Judge George Fufidio in Westchester County Court, and is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney and Auto Crimes Coordinator Adrian Murphy of the Trials and Investigations Division.
The Westchester County Grand Jury Indictment lists 55 catalytic converters stolen from 9 victims (Bird Bus, Royal Coach Lines, Pace University, Village Lawn Service, Mar-Can Transportation, Brunello Cucinelli Retail, Settembre Limousine, Academy Bus Company and Town of Ossining) in 5 municipalities (Greenburgh, Briarcliff Manor, Pelham Manor, Peekskill, Yonkers) on 8 dates between November 2021 and March 2022:
On November 21, 2021 in Greenburgh
- Bird Bus: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles
On December 3, 2021 in Briarcliff Manor
- Royal Coach Lines: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles
- Pace University: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles
- Village Lawn Service: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle
On January 28, 2022 in Pelham Manor
- Mar-Can Transportation: seventeen catalytic convertors from seventeen separate vehicles
On January 31, 2022 in Pelham Manor
- Mar-Can Transportation: fourteen catalytic convertors from fourteen separate vehicles
On February 27, 2022 in Greenburgh
- Brunello Cucinelli Retail: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle
On March 3, 2022 in Peekskill
- Settembre Limousine: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle
On March 7, 2022 in Yonkers
- Academy Bus Company: seven catalytic convertors from seven separate vehicles
On March 28, 2022 in Briarcliff Manor
- Royal Coach Lines: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles
- Town of Ossining: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle
Westchester County Grand Jury Indictment
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK v. TIMOTHY JIMENEZ CHRISTIAN ANCRUM JOEALEN GARCIA JASON VARGAS NICHOLAS LUZARDI
INDICTMENT
COUNT ONE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Town of Greenburgh, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about November 21, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles owned by Bird Busand the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds of $3,000.00.
COUNT TWO: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Town of Greenburgh, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about November 21, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles owned by Bird Bus and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT THREE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles owned by Royal Coach Lines and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT FOUR: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: four catalytic convertors from four separate vehicles owned by Royal Coach Linesand the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT FIVE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles owned by Pace University and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT SIX: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles owned by Pace University and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT SEVEN: GRAND LARCENY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded one thousand dollars; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Village Lawn Service and the value of the catalytic convertor exceeds $1,000.00.
COUNT EIGHT: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JASON VARGAS, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about December 3, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of a vehicle, other than an abandoned vehicle, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Village Lawn Service.
COUNT NINE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JOEALEN GARCIA, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 28, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: seventeen catalytic convertors from seventeen separate vehicles owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TEN: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JOEALEN GARCIA, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 28, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: seventeen catalytic convertors from seventeen separate vehicles owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT ELEVEN: CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND NICHOLAS LUZARDI, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 28, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did knowingly possess stolen property, with intent to benefit himself or a person other than an owner thereof or to impede the recovery by an owner thereof, and when the value of the property exceeds three thousand dollars; to wit: seventeen catalytic convertors owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TWELVE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JOEALEN GARCIA, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 31, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: fourteen catalytic convertors from fourteen separate vehicles owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT THIRTEEN: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND JOEALEN GARCIA, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 31, 2021, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: fourteen catalytic convertors from fourteen separate vehicles owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT FOURTEEN: CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
JOEALEN GARCIA, in the Village of Pelham Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about January 31, 2022, did knowingly possess stolen property, with intent to benefit himself or a person other than an owner thereof or to impede the recovery by an owner thereof, and when the value of the property exceeds three thousand dollars; to wit: fourteen catalytic convertors owned by Mar-Can Transportation and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT FIFTEEN: GRAND LARCENY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Town of Greenburgh, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about February 27, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property and the value of the property exceeded one thousand dollars; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Brunello Cucinelli Retail and the value of the catalytic convertor exceeds $1,000.00.
COUNT SIXTEEN: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Town of Greenburgh, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about February 27, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of a vehicle, other than an abandoned vehicle, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Brunello Cucinelli Retail.
COUNT SEVENTEEN: GRAND LARCENY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the City of Peekskill, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 3, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded one thousand dollars; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Settembre Limousine and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertor exceeds $1,000.00.
COUNT EIGHTEEN: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the City of Peekskill, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 3, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of a vehicle, other than an abandoned vehicle, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by Settembre Limousine.
COUNT NINETEEN: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the City of Yonkers, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 7, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: seven catalytic convertors from seven separate vehicles owned by Academy Bus Company and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TWENTY: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
TIMOTHY JIMENEZ AND CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the City of Yonkers, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 7, 2022, while aiding, abetting and acting in concert with each other, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: seven catalytic convertors from seven separate vehicles owned by Academy Bus Company and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TWENTY ONE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE THIRD DEGREE
CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 28, 2022, did steal property when the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars; to wit: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles owned by Royal Coach Lines and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TWENTY TWO: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE FIRST DEGREE
CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 28, 2022, did remove any part of three or more vehicles, other than abandoned vehicles, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner, and the value of the parts of vehicles removed exceeds an aggregate value of three thousand dollars; to wit: three catalytic convertors from three separate vehicles owned by Royal Coach Lines and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertors exceeds $3,000.00.
COUNT TWENTY THREE: GRAND LARCENY IN THE FOURTH DEGREE
CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 28, 2022, did steal property and the value of the property exceeded one thousand dollars; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by the Town of Ossining and the aggregate value of the catalytic convertor exceeds $1,000.00.
COUNT TWENTY FOUR: AUTO STRIPPING IN THE THIRD DEGREE
CHRISTIAN ANCRUM, in the Village of Briarcliff Manor, County of Westchester and State of New York, on or about March 28, 2022, did remove any part of a vehicle, other than an abandoned vehicle, as defined in subdivision one of section one thousand two hundred twenty-four of the vehicle and traffic law, without the permission of the owner; to wit: one catalytic convertor from one vehicle owned by the Town of Ossining.
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