Six people will face organized crime charges in Weld County, Colorado, for an alleged scheme involving the suspects acquiring and redistributing thousands of stolen catalytic converters.

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations announced the arrests Friday, reporting a warrant sweep police conducted Wednesday in Brighton, Commerce City and Parker, as well as the Las Vegas area in Nevada.

Julian Baros, top left, Nicholas Handley, top center, Devin Garcia, top right, Herman Medina, bottom left, Aaron Reader, bottom center, and Patrick Santoyo, bottom right. (Courtesy/Colorado Bureau of Investigation)

Julian Baros, 31, Nicholas Handley, 25, and Devin Garcia, 40, were booked into the Weld County Jail on Wednesday, with bond set at $700,000 for Baros and $500,000 each for Handley and Garcia — all cash only. Herman Medina, 35, Aaron Reader, 22, and Patrick Santoyo, 43, were arrested in the Las Vegas area and will be extradited to Colorado.

Law enforcement said in a news release all six violated the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and Colorado tax laws, in addition to committing theft and money laundering.

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office began investigating an increase in stolen vehicles and stolen catalytic converters in 2021 due to an increase in crimes involving catalytic converters, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

The Weld County Sheriff’s Office strike team’s investigation led them to Elevation Auto Core, 854 Baseline Place, Suite D, in Brighton. The business, whose registered agent is listed as Baros in state records, boasts itself as “the best and only clear choice for Catalytic converter recycling” on its website.

Catalytic converters filter out pollutants from the car’s exhaust system. Catalytic converter thieves’ methods include sawing through the exhaust pipe underneath the car and selling the device to a scrap metal dealer. Small amounts of precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium — some of which are more valuable than gold — can be extracted from the catalytic converters. This allows thieves to make a quick profit on stolen catalytic converters because of the rising market value of the metals.

In 2022, the CBI and HSI contacted the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and law enforcement elevated the original investigation to a state and federal investigation. Agents and detectives identified the operation as a large-scale redistribution of thousands of stolen catalytic converters, in addition to evading taxes and laundering money.

“This has been a long-term case, but getting justice for the victims who have been financially affected by this group means making a major impact on their criminal operations,” Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams said in the release. “Bringing this case to a positive resolution for the victims has been at the forefront for everyone involved, and I am grateful for their efforts and time they have put into this case.”

State business records indicate Baros incorporated Elevation Auto Care in May 2016. The company has a 4.2-star rating on Google, with a couple of reviews suggesting the business took stolen converters. Responding to one such review, the owner said they “take ID scans, license plate scans and signatures for everyone who sells a converter.”

Elevation Auto Core’s website indicates the business purchases and fully processes scrap ceramic catalytic converters, catalytic converters designed for diesel engines, diesel particulate filters, oxygen sensors and foil catalytic converters. The company purchases units by the piece and also offers a toll option for large lots, according to the website.

“Catalytic converter theft is an extremely costly economic crime,” HSI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan said in the release. “The involved criminal groups are highly sophisticated, and the laundered profits earned from these thefts contribute to the broader activities of organized crime.”

Elevation Auto Core’s website includes links to the Apple and Android stores for a mobile pricing app where customers could search makes or part numbers to find purchase prices for converters in real time. The website states the prices are updated every morning based on the grams of platinum, palladium and rhodium contained per part number.

The Colorado Department of Revenue, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Brighton Police Department, Commerce City Police Department, Parker Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also assisted in the investigation.

“Today’s arrests wouldn’t be possible without the extensive coordination and collaboration with our public safety and other partners in Colorado and across state lines to address this complex and far-reaching operation,” CBI Director Chris Schaefer said in the release. “This investigation shows that this crime knows no boundaries, and we must all continue to work together to reduce the impact of the theft of catalytic converters.

Garcia’s criminal history includes a guilty plea in 2005 to aggravated robbery and wounding or striking with a weapon, according to online Colorado court records. He also pleaded guilty in 2004 to forgery of a check or commercial instrument.

Santoyo’s record includes a guilty plea in 2012 to attempted second-degree assault causing injury with a deadly weapon. In 2002, he pleaded guilty to a felony robbery charge, as well as forgery of a check or commercial instrument.

Police said no further information would be released as the investigation continues.

Baros, Handley and Garcia are scheduled to appear in court 1:30 p.m. Monday before Weld Judge Vincente Vigil.

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