Governor Kathy Hochul and Queens District Lawyer Melinda Katz unveiled on Tuesday a takedown of suspects allegedly answerable for $2 million in stolen retail items.
Photograph by Dean Moses
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Two Queens residents allegedly answerable for dealing $2 million in stolen retail items had been busted in a crackdown that Gov. Kathy Hochul and Queens District Lawyer Melinda Katz introduced Tuesday.
The bust occurred simply days earlier than the most important procuring day of the vacation season, Black Friday — one thing that officers drove house throughout the presser on the Queens DA’s workplace on Nov. 26.
Standing earlier than a big desk overflowing with stolen fragrance, t-shirts, make-up, and even parts of 3D printed weapons, Hochul and Katz pressured that the arrests would assist safeguard retailers from theft and defend patrons from potential gouging.
Hochul herself didn’t mince phrases about prison components benefiting from companies’ monetary losses.
“We’ve had enough with criminals preying on our citizens. We are sick and tired of our citizens feeling they’re vulnerable, whether it’s random crimes on the streets or whether it’s the sophisticated organized crime rates — we are coming after you,” Hochul stated. “I saw enough videos of people behind the counter being assaulted in brazen attacks, sometimes in broad daylight, and they’re so vulnerable, especially if they are the only person in the store or in a gas station when it happens.”
The delicate operation was allegedly operated by husband-and-wife duo Yvelisse Guzman Batista and Cristopher Guzman, who together with fellow accomplices Johanny Almonte Reyes and Rosa Rodriguez Santana directed a horde of shoplifting crews, often known as boosters, to steal giant portions of merchandise from storefronts. Photograph by Dean Moses
Prosecutors stated husband-and-wife duo Yvelisse Guzman Batista and Cristopher Guzman allegedly operated the subtle operation.
The 2 suspects, each residents of Kew Gardens Hills, allegedly labored alongside accomplices Johanny Almonte Reyes and Rosa Rodriguez Santana in directing a horde of shoplifting crews, often known as boosters, to steal giant portions of merchandise from storefronts.
Batista and Guzman then allegedly bought the new merchandise from their house, on-line, and out of a brick-and-mortar retailer within the Dominican Republic, prosecutors famous.
The duo, authorities stated, even allegedly resorted to bribing truck drivers to divert merchandise sure for retailers akin to Sephora and Ulta Magnificence from producer warehouses on to places beneath their management.
Police cracked down on the unlawful enterprise by means of an operation Katz dubbed “Fashionably Fencing.” Undercover operatives made managed purchases of merchandise from the suspects after contacting them by way of social media.
In keeping with the D.A’s workplace, the undercover gained entry to the Guzmans’ basement, which was arrange as a retail retailer with cabinets of stolen merchandise.
Upon their arrests, regulation enforcement brokers discovered greater than $1 million in merchandise in Batista’s and Guzman’s possession. They had been charged with fostering the sale of stolen items, the primary time this newly adopted crime has been charged in New York.
“This investigation and these arrests are about holding the defendants accountable and are also a great opportunity to warn people to be extremely careful when it comes to their purchases especially approaching the holiday season,” Katz stated. “This marks the first time in New York anyone has been charged for the crime of fostering the sale of stolen goods, a new measure passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Hochul to stop the sale of stolen goods through both online platforms and brick-and-mortar locations.”
“This marks the first time in New York anyone has been charged for the crime of fostering the sale of stolen goods, a new measure passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Hochul to stop the sale of stolen goods through both online platforms and brick-and-mortar locations,” DA Katz stated. Photograph by Dean Moses
Katz lauded latest legal guidelines that Hochul signed that helped police recuperate $40 million in stolen items and led to the creation of devoted Retail Theft Groups throughout the New York State Police, whose undercover models participated within the investigation resulting in this indictment.
“Retail theft not only financially impacts a business, but also presents peril to business owners, retail workers and patrons,” New York State Police Superintendent Steven James stated. “State Police remains fully engaged on this issue and will not tolerate the actions of individuals responsible for stealing tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise, victimizing both retailers and the public.”
Katz dubbed the takedown operation “Fashionably Fencing,” which additionally noticed undercover operatives make managed purchases of merchandise from the Guzmans after contacting them by way of social media. Photograph by Dean Moses 
Katz dubbed the takedown operation “Fashionably Fencing,” which additionally noticed undercover operatives make managed purchases of merchandise from the Guzmans after contacting them by way of social media. Photograph by Dean Moses
