(WNY News Now) – A federal investigation has led to the arrest of six individuals accused of operating a retail theft ring, stealing and reselling high-value merchandise from national retailers.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Six individuals from Rochester, New York, were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection to a retail theft ring responsible for stealing and selling hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise. The accused, Shabon Banks (41), Amanda Reeves (40), Chad Lewis, Jr. (20), Chanc Lewis (22), Dominic Sprague (40), and James Civiletti (33), are facing serious federal charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the charges following a months-long investigation initiated by the Greece Police Department. The probe began after authorities noticed an unusually high number of transactions at a local pawn shop, New York Gold Diamond Pawn, where Banks, a known serial larcenist, was regularly selling goods.
The investigation revealed that Banks, along with Reeves and the Lewis brothers, stole new, high-demand items from major retailers, including Home Depot, Target, Lowes, Walmart, and Kohl’s. They sold these items to Sprague and Civiletti, operators of New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop, for a fraction of their value. The pawn shop, in turn, sold the stolen goods on eBay at much higher prices, generating significant profits.
Between December 2021 and August 2024, the shop purchased nearly 38,000 items from the thieves, paying them approximately $290,000, which investigators determined to be only 30% of the items’ retail value. The scheme resulted in substantial financial losses for the retailers, while the pawn shop raked in over $2.4 million from selling the goods online.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, and local law enforcement. All six defendants have been charged and await trial. Shabon Banks also faces additional charges of aggravated identity theft.
While the charges are severe, it is important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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