A Tuscaloosa man is facing multiple felony charges after a months-long investigation turned up more than 150 catalytic converters at his home.

Gregory Bernard Hudson, 58, was taken into custody early Wednesday by the Tuscaloosa Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, said TPD spokeswoman Stephanie Taylor.

Following Hudson’s arrest, investigators carried out a search warrant at his home in the 5600 block of 21st Avenue East. Over the course of the morning, Taylor said, officers found the catalytic converters and other exhaust system components stored in closets, outbuildings and in the back yard.

Officers filled around eight 50-gallon totes with the confiscated auto parts, which were take to police headquarters in three pickup trucks.

Hudson is charged with violating a new state law that outlines procedures secondary metal recyclers must follow when purchasing catalytic converters.

He was charged with 10 counts of Ownership Documentation Required for Purchase of Certain Property, which is a Class B felony, and one count of second-degree receiving stolen property, a Class C felony.

He was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail after posting $315,000 bond.

As of Thursday morning, Taylor said, investigators had matched the serial number of one converter that was reported stolen, leading to the receiving stolen property charge.

“This is an ongoing investigation, but we expect additional charges once we’re able to look closely at each of the converters we confiscated,” said Criminal Investigations Division Commander Capt. Kip Hart. “We’ll be looking for serial numbers and going back through all of the theft reports we’ve received during the last several months to see what we can match.”

The investigation into the thefts and resale of catalytic converters has been ongoing since the summer.

The department conducted a detail targeting the theft and resale of catalytic converters after a spike that began in June. Several officers per shift were assigned to patrol potential target areas, including churches, non-profit organizations and other locations with work trucks or vans left overnight.

Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The value of the precious metals has increased in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic decreased production at overseas mines beginning in 2020.

Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, changing toxic gases to less-harmful pollutants, and can cost thousands of dollars to replace. People who steal them can get a couple hundred dollars when selling them for metals.