PA Shows Chicago How It’s Done, Throws Book At Chicago Crooks And Holds Them Without Bail

Pennsylvania authorities showed Chicago how it’s done and threw the book at three Chicago men who traveled to their state and stole $200,000 worth of catalytic converters. Not only are the suspect being held without bond, but authorities threw the book at the career criminals which should put an end to their crime spree.

Which is not what happened when they were arrested in Chicago for doing the same crime. Why a criminal would leave Chicago to commit crimes when they have a permanent get-out jail-free card in that city is a question these criminals will be asking while they rot in prison.

The three suspects, Christian Buie, 31; Antonio D. Johnson, 42; and Harold T. Wade, 29, are being held without bail on charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, theft and related offenses.

The men, who Chicago police said are members of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang, targeted car dealerships rather than hit cars parked on the streets as is their usual MO.

According to Yahoo:

“The catalytic converter thieves hit in early December at Jim Shorkey auto dealerships in North Huntingdon and North Union, Fayette County, police said. 

“There were a total of 35 catalytic converters taken from Mitsubishi Outlanders at both locations — two were left behind on the ground — causing $124,000 in damage.

“Around the same time, Moon police were investigating the thefts of $20,000 worth of catalytic converters from tow trucks. They identified a suspect vehicle as a Porsche Panamera, according to court papers.”

Here is where the story takes a tragic turn. In 2015 they were busted stealing 24 catalytic converters in Chicago.

But “unlike their Pennsylvania counterparts, Chicago prosecutors only charged the men with misdemeanors. They all received probation.”

According to CWB Chicago:

“Two of the five men who were charged in connection with the theft of 24 catalytic converters last month have reached plea deals.

“Mychael Williamson, 18, and Angelo Perry, 22, each pleaded guilty to one count of theft of lost or mislaid property on Monday.

“Both were sentenced to one year of conditional discharge, which is essentially unsupervised probation.”

And: “Angelo Perry, 22, of Roseland; Harold Wade, 21, of West Garfield Park;  and Christian Buie, 23, Jeramie Murry, 25, and Mychael Williamson, 18, all of Humboldt Park, are each charged with one count of trespassing and one count of theft of lost or mislaid property.”

Three Chicago men traveled to Pittsburgh, rented a Porsche, and stole $200,000 worth of catalytic converters, authorities say.

CWB Chicago featured two of them in 2015 after they crashed a van holding 24 catalytic converters on the North Side.https://t.co/CEYbIlCrGJ

— CWBChicago (@CWBChicago) January 26, 2023

According to Triblive:

Authorities said they learned that the SUV and Porsche were rented by a Chicago woman. Search warrants for cellphone activity in the area of all three thefts led them to numerous Chicago-based phone numbers, including those belonging to Buie, Johnson and Wade, according to court papers. Police said Buie and Wade previously were arrested for catalytic converter thefts in Chicago in 2015.

On Friday, authorities got a warrant to place a mobile tracking device on a Nissan Rogue they believed the trio was using while they stayed at an Airbnb rental in Pittsburgh’s North Side, according to court papers.

Investigators tracked the SUV’s movements during the weekend and said they found many of the spots the trio hit were the site of catalytic converter thefts, including in the area of their rental unit.

A search of the rental turned up reciprocating saws. During a traffic stop Saturday, police said the three men were arrested and 17 catalytic converters were found in the SUV they were driving, according to court papers.