The Chehalis man arrested last month for alleged involvement in an organized catalytic converter trafficking ring was released two days after he was extradited to Oregon, The Chronicle confirmed this week.
Cole C. Miller, 24, pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree aggravated theft and one count of racketeering on Aug. 19.
Miller was one of 14 individuals indicted in Washington County, Oregon, in July as part of the Beaverton Police Department’s investigation into the trafficking of stolen catalytic converters.
The Chehalis Police Department arrested Miller on a $500,000 warrant on Aug. 11. He remained in custody at the Lewis County Jail through Aug. 17, when Oregon officials transported him to the Washington County Jail in Oregon so the case could proceed.
Miller was in custody for his first hearing in Washington County Circuit Court on Aug. 19, where he entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
During that Aug. 19 hearing, a judge granted Miller a recognizance release, meaning he does not have to post bail.
Conditions of his release include provisions prohibiting Miller from having any contact with his codefendants, witnesses, victims and any of the victims’ families. He is also prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol, illegal drugs or deadly weapons, as well as any identification, checks or credit cards that don’t belong to him.
Should Miller violate his conditions of release, he will be remanded into custody.
Standard release conditions prohibit the defendant from leaving the state where the court proceedings are based, but the Washington County Circuit Court judge allowed Miller to continue residing in Washington state.
Miller was out of custody for his next case management hearing on Aug. 29, which he was present for, according to court documents.
Miller’s next case management hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 12.
Miller is being represented by an attorney with the Oregon state Office of Public Defense Services.
Miller is accused of stealing $10,000 or more worth of catalytic converters on three specific dates in 2022: June 16, July 1 and July 20, according to court documents.
Those thefts are allegedly part of “a pattern of racketeering activity” that Miller and his codefendants are accused of participating in.
Court documents claim Miller was “associated with” the Oregon-based business T&B Automotive LLC when the racketeering occurred.
Among those charged for alleged involvement in the trafficking ring is Brennan Patrick Doyle, 32, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, who is accused of being the leader of the criminal organization. Doyle is believed to have trafficked over 44,000 stolen catalytic converters since January 2021 with an estimated street value of over $22 million dollars, according to a news release.
Doyle has pleaded not guilty to 68 counts of first-degree aggravated theft, two counts of laundering a monetary instrument and one count of racketeering in Washington County Circuit Court, according to Oregon court records.
Records indicate Doyle was granted a recognizance release on Aug. 8.
Beaverton detectives say Doyle’s organization capitalized on the increased prices of rhodium, platinum and palladium, which are the valuable metals found in catalytic converters.
A trial date for the case had not been set as of Thursday afternoon.
