Suburban Chicago Family Accused Of $4.2 Million Shoplifting Scam

A family from suburban Chicago is accused of conducting a nationwide shoplifting scam and pulling in a total of $4.2 million off of the stolen goods, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Branko Bogdanov, 58, Lela Bogdanov, 52, and their daughter, Julia Bogdanov, 34, of Northbrook were charged in February after stealing items from malls in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana before going back to Illinois.

On Tuesday, they were arrested from their home by U.S. Secret Service agents. According to a criminal complaint, the Bogdanovs and one other person sold a total of $7.1 million worth of merchandise for $4.2 million through eBay accounts over the past decade.

The complaint connected their years-long theft to stores like Barnes and Noble and Toys 'R' Us, including items like American Girl dolls, Furby robotic toys, Lego blocks, baby monitors, and baby carriers. With the help of eBay -- who noticed the Bogdanov's accounts selling mass amounts of products -- officials were able to track down their illegal sales.

A news release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office states the charges ""detail thefts from Barnes and Noble, Toys R Us, and other retailers that occurred between October and December 2012 in Pikesville, Md., Pembroke Pines, Fla., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., where either telephone records, video surveillance, or both allegedly show the Bogdanovs were at or near at the time and date of specific retail thefts."

The U.S. Attorney's Office also said security footage from one of the malls showed Lela Bogdanov "wearing a long black skirt that appeared larger and fuller when she exited various retail stores than when she entered." Once her skirt was seized in the investigation, authorities found that it could hold multiple stolen items.

All three Bogdanovs are scheduled to appear in court at 11 a.m. Wednesday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason.

Real Time Analytics