Arrest made under new law Digital record keeping on catalytic converters now required

Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan J. Garrison announced on Friday that Mark A. Schafer, age 36, was charged with one count of failure to keep electronic records of catalytic converter purchases (Class A misdemeanor) and one count of purchasing of unattached catalytic converters (Class A misdemeanor) under a new law which took effect May 27, 2022.

Public Act 102-906 was signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker on May 27, 2022, to address the statewide increase in catalytic converter thefts by regulating businesses who purchase catalytic converters. Prior to the enactment of P.A. 102-906, businesses were allowed to purchase at resale catalytic convertors without keeping records. Under the new law, the business must keep various records including a photo or video of the seller of the catalytic converter and the product which can aid law enforcement officials in tracking down thefts.

In this matter, the Illinois Secretary of State Police conducted a compliance check with the assistance of the Litchfield and Carlinville Police Departments on Central Core Company, LLC which is run and operated by Schafer. The enforcement action found that Schafer possessed 54 catalytic converters without keeping the required electronic records. It is estimated the catalytic converters are worth in excess of $20,000 on resale. If found guilty, the business will be required to forfeit all catalytic converters to the State.

“This new law will allow law enforcement to close down the market for stolen catalytic convertors,” said State’s Attorney Garrison. “These thieves will have nowhere to go to profit from the actions. I want to commend Illinois Secretary of State Police Investigator T.J. Rakey for his work to secure this first of its kind charge in the State of Illinois.”

Members of the public are reminded that this information contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant's guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government's burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.