Columbia woman pleads guilty in stolen catalytic converter scheme

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman admitted to her role to move tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines Tuesday in a federal court in Springfield.

Danielle Ice, 34, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to move stolen property across state lines, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri said in a news release. Ice is the last of seven defendants in the case to plead guilty, including her husband, Leslie Ice, 37, the office said.

Ice admitted in her plea to stealing at least 50 catalytic converters and selling them for about $20,000 to co-defendant Evan Marshall, 24, of Rogersville, according to the release. The thefts took place from October 2020 to March 2021.

Marshall admitted to selling stolen catalytic converters stolen by the Ices and others for about $1 million, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Ice is facing up to five years in prison without parole. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.