3 Delco Men Caught In Regional Stolen Catalytic Converter Ring Bust

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Three Delaware County men were caught in the break-up of a catalytic converter theft ring that targeted vehicles in Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia counties.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele this week announced the dismantling of a organized catalytic converter theft ring operating the five-county region.

As a result of the dismantling, Daniel McIlhenney, 37, and Ryan McIlhenney, 36, both of Folcroft, and Terrell Gibson, 40, of Chester, were among those charged.

Also charged were Sharief Louden, 30, of Philadelphia; Loai Nasser, 49, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Ali Sayyam, 29, of Ocean, New Jersey.

All were arrested, except for Sayyam who has an arrest warrant out.

They are charged with multiple felony counts of corrupt organization, theft of catalytic converter, receiving stolen property, theft of secondary metal, and related charges.

A joint investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division began in 2022 when thefts of catalytic converters in Montgomery and surrounding counties rose sharply.

Thieves began targeting catalytic converters due to the escalating value of the metals' platinum, palladium, and rhodium found in the devices. During the height of COVID, prices for precious metals were inflated, with rodium selling for as much as $31,000 an ounce; now it’s down to about $4,500 an ounce.

Members of this corrupt organization would steal catalytic converters off vehicles parked in high-traffic areas, such as shopping malls and centers, business parks, Philadelphia International Airport, Drexel University and other locations.

Acting quickly, they could jack up a vehicle, cut out the catalytic converter, and lower the vehicle in less than two minutes, allowing them to quickly steal catalytic converters.

They would then sell the catalytic converters to salvage yards including two located on 61st Street in Philadelphia: Big Head Auto Salvage, operated by Daniel and Ryan McIlhenney, and Philly Auto Salvage, operated by Nasser and Sayyam, authorities said. Both salvage yards would then sell the catalytic converters to various outlets in New Jersey, according to authorities.

During 2023, records showed that Philly Auto Salvage sold converters for more than $1 million, while Big Head Auto Salvage recorded sales of more than $300,000, authorities said.

The long-term investigation was led by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Unit.

The investigation involved electronic, visual and fixed surveillance; call detail records; downloads of cellphones; multiple interviews and other forms of investigation.

The investigation received assistance from numerous law enforcement agencies, including the following:

• East Norriton
• Upper Merion Township
• Springfield Township
• Upper Gwynedd Township
• Lower Gwynedd Township
• Montgomery Township
• Lower Providence Township Police
• West Norriton Township
• Plymouth Township
• Upper Dublin Township
• Abington Township
• Upper Moreland Township
• Philadelphia
• Bucks County Detective Bureau
• Pennsylvania State Police,
• Delaware River Port Authority Police
• University of Delaware Police
• Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force
• FBI

They were all were arraigned on Sept. 18, 2023, who set bail at $99,000 cash for Daniel McIlhenney, Ryan McIlhenney and Loai Nassar, $50,000 10 percent for Gibson, and $100,000 unsecured for Louden.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2024.