Three people from a Chicago family are charged with stealing $7M worth of goods during a decade long shoplifting spree. Three people? $7M? That is almost $1M a year worth of stuff. Three people? That is a bunch of stuff for a wife and husband and their daughter to steal, but steal they did according to federal officials. They would steal the items and then sell them all on eBay. The ring leader is Branko Bogdanov, who is 58 and moved to the US from the former Yugoslavia back in 1973. He is here illegally. He has also been arrested 16 times and convicted 6 times. He has never been deported. So, when you think that Justin Bieber is going to get deported for a DUI or pot possession, chances are slim.
Bogdanov and his wife and 34 year old daughter worked together to amass the fortune in stolen goods. Bogdanov's lawyer says his client has no money but he does own a paid off $1.3M home and 12 cars valued at several hundred thousand dollars which are also all paid off. How do you manage to steal that much stuff one item at a time? That is $100K worth of stuff every month for a decade. That is only what the prosecutors can prove. It is probably way more.
7 million in 10 yrs?
ReplyDeleteamateurs.
I know someone who did this, could be still, dunno...but not on this scale. I'm sure she'd be envious.
ReplyDeleteIf he is here illegally, has been arrested 16 times and convicted 6 times. Why hasn't he been deported?
ReplyDeleteIts hard to deport someone when their country no longer exist
DeleteIt was a rhetorical question, but thanks for the history lesson!
Delete@FSP- If they held Viktor Navorski in an airport terminal, they could hold this guy somewhere. No excuses!
Delete@Lotta- He chit, he chit, he chit.
Delete@FSP- what? Eat shit? Repeat exactly what she said ...
DeleteeBay & CraigsList are the two biggest fencing locales in the world now. I keep thinking how much money I could make if I didn't have morals and ethics... stupid ol' ethics!
ReplyDeleteReading this reminds me of that old joke, "I'm not a doctor, but I do play one on television."
ReplyDeleteHe may be cash broke, but having a "paid off $1.3M home and 12 cars valued at several hundred thousand dollars which are also all paid off" means he has assets. Ask Bernie how that works out.
What FSP said. Why is he still here?
ReplyDeleteChicago, gun related murder crime capital of the US, I guess that stealing whatever quantity is not a big deal there.
ReplyDeleteit's a gypsies life for me!
ReplyDeleteThey would've loved to have recruited 13 year old me. The things I amassed back before the Foley's at my mall had extensive security was pretty righteous. Not to mention 5-7-9 and Contempo. I had a an enviable babydoll dress collection.
ReplyDeleteSo what made you decide to walk the honorable path?
DeleteAt the last company I worked at (large software company) there was an executive who made excellent money but felt the need to steal to make more. He would go to Targets in the bay area and change the prices on Lego sets then turn around and sell them on eBay to ship overseas. Did it for about 12 months before he was caught on store cameras. Made about $30K lost his $175K a year job and is probably in jail.
ReplyDeleteMakes him look like an amateur compared to these guys.
Obviously they're not shoplifting from Target.
ReplyDeleteWho says the American Dream is dead?
ReplyDelete$7 million dollars divided by three people is $2.33 million per person. Over a decade that's $233,333 per person per year.
ReplyDeleteThey're not from Chicago, they live in the northern suburb of Northbrook.
ReplyDeleteStop blaming us in the city for suburban criminals!
I pray that you're a woman, discoflux...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like stealing small electronics or jewelry to come up with that amount.
ReplyDelete