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Manhattan beauty supply store allegedly doubled as huge fencing operation
By
Catalina Gonella
Published May 8, 2024
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Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Catalina Gonella
Published May 8, 2024
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A Manhattan beauty supply store and its owners have been indicted for allegedly selling stolen goods, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Wednesday.
Prosecutors said Rehana Cosmetics Inc., Bibi Rehana Khan, 54 and Aaron Khan, 40, possessed more than $1 million in stolen goods as part of a retail theft “fencing” operation. They all face felony counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the first, second and third degrees.
Attempts to reach the Khans' attorneys were unsuccessful.
According to a long-term investigation by the DA’s office, Rehana's Cosmetics, located at 870 Sixth Ave in Manhattan, was a known destination where shoplifters could bring stolen goods, which the store would then resell for profit.
“We allege that created a motive for shoplifters to steal and thus that the defendants we alleged were drivers of crime,” Bragg said.
During a search of the store and its two storage units at 1234 Broadway conducted in January, investigators found enough stolen property to fill 450 medium cardboard boxes. But instead of beauty supplies, however, many of the items included designer purses, electronic devices, over-the-counter medications, Lego sets, kitchenware, clothing and more, according to Bragg.
According to Bragg’s office, the items that were found included $212,000 worth of stolen merchandise from Macy’s. The rest of the stolen goods were from CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Ulta Beauty, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and the NHL Store, prosecutors said.
Bragg said the investigation into Rehana Cosmetics and the subsequent charges that were filed are part of a broader crack down on organized retail theft in the city, which he called a “persistent and stubborn” problem.
“There's a shadow network of fencing operations — individuals and businesses who knowingly buy property stolen and resell it at a profit,” Bragg said. “These individuals and businesses are key drivers of this criminal activity.”
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Catalina Gonella
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