Ulster County resident Chase Bunt, 33, was convicted of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree and sentenced to one year in jail for his role in a sprawling retail theft ring dismantled by New York authorities. Bunt was among 36 individuals convicted in connection to the operation led by Roni Rubinov, which targeted New York City retailers between 2017 and 2022.
The scheme involved organized teams stealing goods and gift cards, which were then funneled through Rubinov’s Manhattan businesses (New Liberty Loans Pawn Shop and Romanov Gold Buyers) and sold online via an eBay store. Authorities recovered $3.8 million in stolen merchandise, more than 550 stolen cards, and over $300,000 in cash. Rubinov, the ringleader, was sentenced to up to seven and a half years in prison, forfeited $2.1 million, and must pay $3.1 million in restitution.
The operation also included illegal dealings in EBT cards and reinvestment of illicit profits to sustain the enterprise. The convictions followed a multi-year investigation by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the NYPD.
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