According to an Iowa City police complaint, officers investigating the theft of catalytic converters – a vehicle emissions control device – came into contact with 19-year-old Jamari L. Russell, who was driving a U-Haul near Highway 1 West at about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday. In the back of the U-Haul, officers found a bag containing 16 catalytic converters...The estimated collective value of these catalytic converters falls somewhere between $10,000-$15,000. Russell has been charged with 1st degree theft, which is a Class C felony. He faces up to ten years in prison.
Russell told police he was taking the converters to his mother's house in Chicago, where his brother – who he said stole the converters – would pick them up and sell them, police say. Russell admitted to knowing the converters were stolen.