Junk dealer faces two years in prison for stolen catalytic converters

An Edmonton, Alberta, junk dealer faces two years prison after being caught with a trailer load of catalytic converters. Tekie Awte was arrested when caught with the “cats” in June 2020. The trailer had dozens of expensive auto exhaust system parts. In the end, police found Awte had more than 400 of them in his possession. Yet his prison time could come from just 42 of the stolen converters.

“Blind eye” could lead to two years in prison for stolen converters

Crown Prosecutor Kate Andress would like to make Mr. Awte an example to others who turn a blind eye to where stolen goods come from. Andress said the prosecution was one of the first of its kind and said just the 42 stolen converters associated with his conviction were reasonably valued at $84,000.

How did Tekie Awte come into possession of so many catalytic converters? His attorney says Awte started out running a legitimate tow truck company. His business lead him to move into the scrap business. Then when he was 24, he ended up buying stolen catalytic converters by “happenstance.” Awte’s lawyer says that his client never viewed himself as “the head of some crime ring.”

Maybe not, but the prosecutor says Awte knew he was buying stolen goods. She says that’s evident from the fact that Awte “chastised” some of his sellers for making “seemingly incriminating” comments about where the converters came from. After that, Awte would continue to buy converters from the same dumb crooks. The prosecution says Awte was “willfully blind” about the matter, and argued “deliberate ignorance is akin to full knowledge.”

Defense attorney begs to differ on potential sentence

Awte’s attorney says he thinks his client should get 60 to 180 days in jail for his conviction. Court records show Awte is Eritrean He grew up in Sudan, when the country was enveloped by civil war. He is now a Canadian citizen, and his attorney says he used his income to help his family emigrate.

Caught with hundreds, why only charged with 42?

Caught with hundreds of converters, why was Atwe only found guilty of buying 42 of them? Prosecutors could only prove the 42 converters were stolen property. To do that, they had to rely on a combination of text messages, testimony from thieves who stole converters, and circumstantial evidence. Only two of the converters were traced back to specific victims.

The junk dealer faces two years’ prison time. The court will decide the actual numbers next month.

Converter theft is big business. Read this article to see how you can protect yours.

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