The leader of a major theft crew responsible for stealing catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

The reputed head of a Massachusetts-based theft ring received a 10-year prison sentence Tuesday for his role in the scheme that targeted catalytic converters on hundreds of vehicles, along with jewelry stores and automatic teller machines,

The leader of a western Massachusetts catalytic converter theft ring that the feds described as operating at the speed of a “NASCAR pit crew” will spend 10 years in prison.

Rafael Davila has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for leading a catalytic converter theft ring, after pleading guilty to multiple charges. His arrest led to a decline in such thefts in Massachusetts.

The ringleader of a group that appears to have been responsible for most of the catalytic converter thefts in Greater Boston in recent years has been handed down a decade-long sentence on Tuesday by a federal judge.

The leader of a gang of thieves who smashed and grabbed their way to major jewelry hauls was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to a series of federal charges. The U.S. attorney said the group's crime spree racked up $2 million in losses for local businesses and people.