MINNEAPOLIS — Four Minnesotans were indicted for their roles in a lucrative multi-million dollar scheme to transport stolen catalytic converters to buyers in several states.
John Charles Kotten, 41, of Hutchinson; Justin Tyme Johnson, 32, of St. Paul; Soe Nye Moo, 31, of St. Paul; and James Dillon Jensen, 34, of Minneapolis are all charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate.
According to court documents, Kotten and Johnson are charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, conspiracy to commit money laundering and false statements to a financial institution. Johnson was also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering – concealment, and Moo is charged with possession of a machine gun.
Prosecutors say the catalytic converters, which were stolen by street-level cutters, were transferred to Kotten or Johnson, who were posing as legitimate automotive scrapping and recycling workers. The stolen parts were then sold to buyers in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Colorado and New York, and transported in rented U-Haul trailers and personal vehicles.
According to court documents, the defendants received about $21 million from May 2020 through October 2022. Officials say payments were typically in the form of wire transfer, cash or check.
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