This week, a New Jersey man admitted to orchestrating a massive multi-state operation that stole thousands of catalytic converters from vehicles and sold them on a secondary market for millions of dollars, federal officials say.

On July 21, 2025, Navin Khanna, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen goods in interstate commerce and five counts of money laundering regarding his participation in the stolen goods scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Khanna was the owner and operator of New Jersey-based D.G. Auto Parts, described by authorities as a “criminal enterprise that bought and sold auto parts across the country.”

Between May 2020 and October 2022, the DOJ alleges that Khanna conspired to purchase and transport large numbers of stolen catalytic converters from Oklahoma, Texas, and other states to New Jersey. Khanna then resold the stolen catalytic converters to a refinery that extracted precious metals, netting Khanna approximately $600 million.

An investigation was launched into the scheme in 2020 after police noted a “drastic increase in catalytic converter thefts throughout Tulsa.” A Tulsa Police Department investigation uncovered “a national criminal enterprise,” and search warrants were executed in Oklahoma, Texas, California, New Jersey and New York.

As part of his plea deal, Khanna has agreed to forfeit the following items that were discovered by police during the execution of search warrants at his properties:

• $4 million in cash
• 11 luxury vehicles — including a Lamborghini, two Mercedes AMGs, two Ferraris, a McLaren, a Porsche, a Ford F650 Truck, and a BMW M3
• Real estate properties
• High-end jewelry
• Gold bars
• Over 200 pallets of catalytic converters

Over 20 other people have been charged in connection with this conspiracy, and more than a dozen have pleaded guilty in the Northern District of Oklahoma:

• Tyler James Curtis, 26, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. He agreed to forfeit over $3 million and multiple vehicles
• Adam Sharkey, 26, of West Islip, New York, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and agreed to forfeit nearly $1.2 million
• Robert Gary Sharkey, 57, of Babylon, New York, pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony and agreed to forfeit his interest in more than $1.2 million in currency seized by law enforcement
• Benjamin Robert Mansour, 24, of Bixby, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering;
• Reiss Nicole Biby, 24, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony and agreed to forfeit her interest in more than $1.1 million and seized catalytic converters
• Martynas Macerauskas, 28, of Leila Lake, Texas, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and agreed to forfeit nearly $2.2 million
• Kristina McKay Macerauskas, 21, of Leila Lake, Texas, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and agreed to forfeit nearly $1.1 million
• Parker Star Weavel, 25, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Receiving Stolen Property in Indian Country
• Shane Allen Minnick, 26, of Haskell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy and agreed to forfeit $500,000;
• Ryan David LaRue 29, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy
• Brian Pate Thomas, 25, of Choteau, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy
• Michael Anthony Rhoden, 26, of Keifer, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy

Khanna’s co-defendants have agreed to to forfeit more than $3.2 million, including more than $250,000 from multiple bank accounts; two lots of land located in Oklahoma, cars, and stolen catalytic converters seized during the investigation, according to the DOJ.

Khanna faces up to 168 to 210 months in prison.

“The defendant made $600 million and financed his ostentatious lifestyle by buying and selling stolen goods,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to taking the profit out of crime. Sophisticated criminal schemes may afford you luxury cars and homes in the short term but will cost you a federal felony conviction in the long term.”

“Khanna’s theft ring took advantage of hard-working citizens in the Northern District of Oklahoma by stealing catalytic converters, rendering the vehicle unusable,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “I would like to thank the Tulsa Police Department and our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in bringing this senseless crime to justice.”

Agencies assisting in the investigation include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyandotte Nation Police Department.