A Queens couple has been accused of running a large-scale theft ring targeting major retail chains such as Macy’s and Sephora, stealing luxury brands and making millions of dollars in the process, officials revealed on Tuesday.
Cristopher Guzman, 35, and Yvelisse Guzman Batista, 29, allegedly led the operation and became the first individuals charged under a new state law designed to combat such online criminal schemes, according to authorities.
During a press conference, Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the significance of the new law, which criminalizes the promotion of stolen goods, particularly through online platforms and intermediaries.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the couple’s operation as a “large-scale retail theft and fencing operation” that involved stolen high-end makeup, perfume, beauty products, designer clothing, and accessories from various locations along the East Coast.
The couple allegedly ordered theft crews to steal specific items from stores, selling these goods from their Kew Gardens residence or a storefront in the Dominican Republic under the name Yvelissa Fashion, LLC.
Authorities claim that the couple also paid off truck drivers to divert loads of products directly from manufacturers’ warehouses to them, bypassing retailers like Sephora and Ulta Beauty.
According to Katz, the couple made over $2 million from their illegal activities, offering stolen merchandise at prices well below retail value.
Several individuals, including Batista’s mother Rosa Rodriguez Santana and others, were also charged in connection with the theft ring. The defendants face multiple charges, including criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy.
Law enforcement officials discovered the operation through an investigation by the New York State Police, leading to surveillance of the couple’s properties and subsequent undercover operations.
During a raid on the suspects’ homes, authorities seized a large quantity of stolen products, as well as equipment used in their illegal activities.
The defendants are scheduled to appear in court in January and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
-Additional reporting by Vaughn Golden
