Cross Lanes Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Operating Fencing Scheme | USAO-SDWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  Nedeltcho Vladimirov, 53, a local of Bulgaria, was sentenced right this moment to eight years and one month in federal jail for conspiring to commit cash laundering and cash laundering.  A federal jury convicted Vladimirov after a three-day trial in July 2021 of 1 rely of conspiring to commit cash laundering and three counts of cash laundering.

Proof at trial revealed that Vladimirov operated a fraudulent fencing operation – a scheme during which stolen items have been acquired with a view to resell them for revenue to an unsuspecting purchaser. Vladimirov purchased the gadgets he resold at a small fraction of the retail price from people hooked on heroin, recognized within the fencing scheme as “boosters.” Vladimirov met the “boosters” at a fuel station in Cross Lanes the place he purchased new gadgets resembling excessive finish vacuum cleaners, instruments and different gadgets that he later resold on his eBay account.  The investigation revealed that Vladimirov offered over 7,000 gadgets on his eBay account and had over $594,000 in gross sales over a three-year interval. The “boosters” used the money supplied by Vladimirov for the stolen gadgets to help their drug habits. A federal search warrant executed at Vladimirov’s residence by the USA Secret Service on February 10, 2020, revealed that he had arrange cleansing stations used to  take away safety units and labels from packing containers in order that the stolen gadgets couldn’t be traced.

“Shutting down this fencing operation and bringing Vladimirov to justice was a major staff effort,” mentioned United States Legal professional Will Thompson. “I can not overstate the worth of the collaboration between our legislation enforcement companions and the Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigators from the shops victimized on this fencing scheme.  I applaud all the staff for his or her efforts to carry Vladimirov accountable and to guard each retailers and shoppers from additional hurt.”

“The Secret Service is devoted to defending our nation’s monetary establishments and companies that function inside the Southern District of West Virginia,” mentioned United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Cost Robert Pyle.  “I admire our legislation enforcement companions on the South Charleston Police Division, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Division, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Division and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Felony Investigations, whose work helped safe this profitable end result.  Our partnership with the Organized Retail Crime (ORC) investigators from Kroger, Goal and CVS Pharmacy was instrumental on this case as nicely.”

“We’re grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace within the Southern District of West Virginia, federal, state and native legislation enforcement, different retailers, and our loss prevention specialist who helped carry Mr. Vladimirov to justice,” mentioned Company Affairs Supervisor James McNees, Mid-Atlantic Division, The Kroger Firm.  “Partnerships like these are integral to the vitality of our operations and security of our clients.” 

America Secret Service, the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Felony Investigations, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Division, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Division and the South Charleston Police Division, in addition to the Organized Retail Crimes (ORC) investigators from Kroger, CVS Pharmacy and Goal Company.

United States District Choose Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence.  Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman and Erik S. Goes dealt with the prosecution.   

A replica of this press launch is positioned on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Associated court docket paperwork and knowledge will be discovered on PACER by trying to find Case No. 2:20-cr-00054.

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