Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Man Who Possessed Stolen Gun and Participated in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Pleads Guilty
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THEODORE ROOSEVELT OWENS, 22, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to offenses related to his possession of a stolen firearm and his role in a catalytic converter theft ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2021, Vernon Police arrested Owens in a hotel parking lot on outstanding warrants. An investigation revealed that, shortly before his arrest, Owens possessed a loaded Zigana, Model PX-9 G2, 9mm pistol, which he had cause to believe was stolen, and approximately five grams of crack cocaine. The firearm was part of a shipment of 50 Zigana PX-9G2 pistols that was stolen from an R&L Carriers warehouse in South Windsor in August 2021.
The investigation further revealed that Owens had conspired with others in the theft and sale of catalytic converters. Between September 24 and October 17, 2021, Owens sold a co-conspirator $26,320 worth of catalytic converters, including converters that Owens knew were stolen. Owens’ co-conspirator transported the converters to other businesses, including businesses in New York and New Jersey, for further resale and profit.
Owens pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Owens has been detained since his arrest.
The firearm theft investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the South Windsor Police Department and East Hartford Police Department. The catalytic converter investigation is being led by the ATF, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.
###