Navin Khanna, a 42-year-old resident of Holmdel, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his role in a nationwide catalytic converter theft ring. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Khanna admitted to conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, conspiracy to commit promotional money laundering, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
Court documents reveal that from October 2019 through March 2024, Khanna and several family members and associates operated DG Auto, purchasing stolen catalytic converters from California and other states. The operation reportedly involved over $600 million in transactions. Authorities charged ten other New Jersey residents and three California residents as part of an investigation that targeted the theft ring.
Catalytic converter thefts have risen across the United States due to the valuable metals inside these car parts. Thieves often target vehicles for their converters because they can be quickly removed and sold for high prices on the black market. Some models—such as those from Toyota Prius vehicles—can fetch more than $1,200 each.
Khanna is accused of buying more than $38 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from the Sacramento area alone. Prosecutors say he received shipments from Tou Vang and his family, who ran Vang Auto. These shipments sometimes included pallets weighing over 1,000 pounds containing high-value converters like those used in Toyota Prius cars. According to authorities, Khanna was so closely associated with these particular parts that he displayed their code—GD3-EA6—on a vanity license plate on one of his McLaren vehicles.
Tou Vang was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison for crimes including transporting thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines and laundering money.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), IRS Criminal Investigation, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, Sacramento Police Department, Davis Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Livermore Police Department, and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. AlegrÃa and Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud are prosecuting the case.
Navin Khanna is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins at a future date.
