TDI Towing in Philadelphia was charged alongside 11 individuals for operating a catalytic converter theft ring that purchased an estimated 27,300 stolen converters for $8.2 million between 2020 and 2023, with the operation spending approximately $10,000 per night on stolen converters at peak activity, according to the Washington Post and Bucks County DA. Owner Michael Williams was dubbed the kingpin of the operation and was later sentenced to two and a half to five years in state prison.
Operator takeaway
A tow yard that buys scrap without documenting the source is one transaction away from a federal conspiracy charge — this case proves prosecutors will treat the yard as the hub of the operation, not an innocent buyer.