A years-long racketeering investigation has led to the arrest of 9 folks tied to a Broward pawn store operation accused of orchestrating a statewide retail theft ring that price main retailers hundreds of thousands in losses.
In keeping with the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace, U.S. Pawn—working storefronts and warehouses in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale—was on the middle of the felony enterprise. Detectives say the store’s staff paid skilled thieves, typically referred to as “boosters,” for stolen merchandise together with over-the-counter medicines, electronics, instruments, and well being and sweetness merchandise—many nonetheless in sealed containers from retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Publix, House Depot, and Walmart. The products had been then resold on-line.
The operation was allegedly led by U.S. Pawn proprietor Igor Melomed, 46, and supported by employees who helped transfer and resell the stolen objects. Investigators say the ring prolonged past Broward County and had ripple results throughout Florida.
“This was fairly the operation—very profitable, sadly,” stated BSO Sgt. Wealthy Rossman throughout a Tuesday press briefing.
The investigation started in 2022. In December 2023, detectives served search warrants at U.S. Pawn’s Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale places, seizing greater than 50 pallets of stolen merchandise valued at over $750,000. Authorities say the amount was so overwhelming, staff at instances closed the shops to course of the incoming items, which had been delivered in wagons and trash luggage.
– Commercial –
“Everyone was going to U.S. Pawn,” Rossman stated, noting how investigators started seeing a pattern involving a number of main retailers.
On Tuesday, seven suspects had been arrested, becoming a member of two others who had been taken into custody earlier. All face fees starting from racketeering to dealing in stolen property.
Arrested and Charged:
-
Igor Melomed, 46 – 1 depend of racketeering
-
Marie Turene, 34 – 1 depend of racketeering, 1 depend of dealing in stolen property
-
William LaCroix, 58 – 1 depend of racketeering
-
Lyndon Johnson, 37 – 1 depend of racketeering, 3 counts of dealing in stolen property
-
Edward Ibragimov, 39 – 1 depend of racketeering
-
Kevin Gilyard, 37 – 1 depend of racketeering, 1 depend of dealing in stolen property
-
Luis Bustos Diaz, 36 – 1 depend of racketeering
-
Natalia Kudelina, 49 – 1 depend of dealing in stolen property
-
Natalia Khodyreva, 40 – 2 counts of dealing in stolen property
BSO officers say the investigation remains to be ongoing. Authorities praised the shut cooperation from affected retailers all through the probe.
“This wasn’t simply petty theft. This was a extremely organized operation that damage companies throughout the state,” Rossman stated.
