A member of the catalytic converter theft crew operating out of western Massachusetts has pleaded guilty.

Zachary Marshall, either 25 or 26, of Holyoke, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and interstate transportation of stolen property. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Feb. 7, 2024.

Marshall, was a part of the seven-member crew the feds say stole catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire from last year until their arrests on April 12, the culmination of “Operation Cut and Run,” a joint effort by federal law enforcement agencies, the Massachusetts State Police, and more than 70 local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Rafael “Robbin Hood” Davila, of Agawam, was the alleged leader of the whole operation that, in the words of then-FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta, “robbed catalytic converters out of hundreds of vehicles, under the cloak of darkness, in under 60 seconds, leaving virtually no community untouched.”

The crew is just one of many contributing to a huge trend in catalytic converter theft across the nation, owing to the high values of the precious metals contained within the converters — those columns attached to an exhaust pipe used to reduce the emissions.

According to Monex — a bullion trader based in Newport Beach, Calif. — the spot price on the day of the arrests for platinum was $1,027 an ounce and palladium was at $1,493 an ounce, both less than gold’s $2,027 per ounce price at the time. But the real precious metal was rhodium, which many traders listed at $7,000 or more at the time.

The market was less hot Tuesday, with platinum listed at at $919.40 per ounce and palladium at $1,051 per ounce.  Money Metals Exchange listed rhodium at $4,400 per ounce.

Marshall is the fifth member to plead guilty.

Nicholas Davila, of Springfield, pleaded guilty first — ahead of the actual arrests — on March 13. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9.

Jose “Goldy” Torres, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on May 17. The feds say he was a fence for the stolen converters, meaning that he bought them from this and other crews and then in turn sold them to scrap dealers throughout the northeast for between $30,000 and $80,000 in revenue per week. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14.

Alexander “Dirty” Oyola, also of Springfield, pleaded guilty a week later to charges of ATM and jewelry store burglaries related to the ring, though his sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Santo Feliberty pleaded guilty on Oct. 19 and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 31.

Cases against alleged leader Rafael Davila and alleged member Carlos “Charlito” Fonseca are still pending.

Photos of the seven men arrested in western Massachusetts Wednesday morning and charged with being members of a major catalytic converter theft crew. (Courtesy/ U.S. District Court)