TAYLORSVILLE — A man who police believe has helped orchestrate catalytic converter thefts across Salt Lake County has been arrested and charged by the Utah Attorney General's Office.
Omar Ernesto Martinez-Gomez, 47, of Salt Lake City, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with money laundering, engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, and possession of stolen property, all second-degree felonies.
The investigation dates back to at least July 2021 when Taylorsville police arrested a man in possession of a stolen vehicle and two stolen catalytic converters, according to charging documents. The man told investigators he would steal the converters and sell them to a man named "Omar," the charges state.
Members of the Attorney General's Crimes Against Statewide Economy unit served a search warrant on the man's phone and found "numerous text messages regarding the sale of catalytic converters" to Martinez-Gomez, according to the charges.