Medford Man Sentenced For Stealing Catalytic Converters Across LI: DA

MEDFORD, NY — A Medford resident accused repeatedly of stealing catalytic converters was sentenced to prison for crimes committed in 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Catalytic converters are emissions control devices in the exhaust system underneath a motor vehicle. Inside the catalytic converter are three precious metals: platinum, rhodium and palladium. Thieves typically use a reciprocating saw to cut the pipes on either side of the converter, taking just a few minutes.

According to court documents and Jason Labbe’s admissions during his guilty plea, on Aug. 22, 2022, Labbe broke into the parking lot of a business in Calverton and removed catalytic converters from three vehicles. On Dec. 5, 2022, Labbe removed a catalytic converter from a work truck parked in front of a home in Shirley, the DA said. Then, on Dec. 20, 2022, Labbe stole a car that was parked in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Medford, prosecutors said.

SEE:

• Man Who Stole Catalytic Converter Arrested In Shirley: Police
• Man Stole Catalytic Converters From 3 Vehicles In Calverton

He was represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq., who told Patch, "Mr. Labbe admitted his wrong doing, accepted responsibility and will address his addiction issues while in custody by seeking help and education through all possible programs the department of corrections offers."

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said Jason Labbe’s brother, Daniel Labbe, 43, of Medford, had previously pleaded guilty in April 2023 to Auto Stripping in the Second Degree, a Class E felony, for stealing a catalytic converter from a truck in Rocky Point. Daniel Labbe was sentenced to two to four years in prison in May 2023, the DA said. At the time of that sentence, he was already serving a prison sentence of two to four years for a previous catalytic converter theft in which he was sentenced in January 2023.

Tierney said Friday that Jason Labbe, 46, was sentenced to three to six years in prison, after pleading guilty to auto stripping and other related charges.

“We will not tolerate quality-of-life crimes like catalytic converter theft in Suffolk County,” said Tierney. “I hope this sentence sends the message that we will continue to vigorously prosecute criminals who negatively impact the quality of life in Suffolk County.”

On Dec. 20, 2023, Labbe pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to one count of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, a Class D felony, and two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, Tierney said.

On Feb. 9, Justice Pilewski sentenced Labbe to three to six years in prison.