New York Man Admits Fencing Jewelry Stolen from Mall Stores and Kiosks Across the U.S.

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O'Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that SALIM SAKAL, 55, of Brooklyn, New York, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to an offense related to his buying and selling jewelry stolen from mall-based stores and kiosks across the country.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between May 2023 and April 2024, an organized jewelry theft ring of Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia. The total losses from the burglaries exceed $4.4 million. Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware.

Sakal was the co-owner of Ramoun Jewelry, located in Corona, New York, which sold jewelry and gold to retail customers. The business also purchased jewelry and gold from third parties. Sakal conspired with members of the organized jewelry theft ring to receive, store, and sell jewelry stolen from seven burglaries between August 2023 and April 2024. Sakal paid his co-conspirators cash for the stolen merchandise for a fraction of the actual retail amount, and then sold it to others, including those he knew would melt down the gold. Ramoun did not have a valid second-hand dealer license required under the laws and regulations of New York City, and he did not maintain required records, including the identifying information of the sellers, a description of the items purchased, and the date and time of the purchase.

To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement.

Sakal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and receive stolen goods, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

Sakal has agreed to pay restitution of $2,471,457, jointly and severally with others convicted in this case.

Sakal is released on a $1,000,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for April 17.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven's Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Conor M. Reardon.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance.