SALT LAKE CITY — A man who authorities say spearheaded the thefts of numerous catalytic converters from cars in Utah has been arrested.
Omar Ernesto Martinez-Gomez (also identified as Omar Martinez), 47, was charged this week with one 2nd-degree felony count each of:
- Theft by Receiving Stolen Property
- Money Laundering
- Pattern of Unlawful Activity
The investigation began in July 2021 when police in Taylorsville arrested a suspect with two stolen catalytic converters in his possession. He told police that he sold catalytic converters to Martinez for between $70-300.
Then in February of this year, another suspect was arrested with stolen converters in his possession. He told police he sold them to Martinez for $200 each.
READ: Unified Police, Jiffy Lube team up to protect Utahns from catalytic converter thefts
The Utah Attorney General's Office then purchased catalytic converters from a local metal recycling company and conducted "controlled sales" of them with Martinez.
According to charging documents, Martinez used his own businesses — Del Sol Auto Recycling and El Sol Auto Sales — as a front when he sold stolen catalytic converters to a local metal recycler in the Salt Lake area.
In just one year, from August 2021 to August 2022, authorities say Martinez sold 3,556 catalytic converters to a single recycling company for $915,230. He allegedly mixed the sales of these stolen items with legitimate catalytic converter sales.
The Utah Attorney General's Office said Martinez has been deported in the past and has re-entered the United States without proper documentation. He is currently being held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
