Jason Labbe, of Medford, sentenced for auto stripping and stealing catalytic converters
A van containing seized catalytic converters that were stolen is shown outside Nassau County police headquarters in Mineola on Jan. 30, 2023. Credit: James Carbone
A Medford man was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty to auto stripping and stealing catalytic converters.
Jason Labbe, 46, of Medford, pleaded guilty in December to one felony count of auto stripping and three counts of grand larceny for stealing catalytic converters from five vehicles between August and December of 2022.
The converters, which are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, are targeted for precious metals inside used to reduce vehicle pollutants.
Labbe admitted to stealing catalytic converters from three vehicles in August 2022 at a locked parking lot at a business in Calverton. He admitted to stealing a converter from a work truck parked in front of a home in Shirley, and he also stole a car parked in front of a Medford 7-Eleven in December 2022, according to the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.
“We will not tolerate quality-of-life crimes like catalytic converter theft in Suffolk County,” District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement. “I hope this sentence sends the message that we will continue to vigorously prosecute criminals who negatively impact the quality of life in Suffolk County.”
Labbe’s brother, Daniel Labbe, 43, of Medford, pleaded guilty last April to stealing a catalytic converter from a truck in Rocky Point. He was already serving up to a 4-year sentence for previously stealing catalytic converters, prosecutors said.
He was sentenced to an additional 2 to 4 years in prison in May.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
