A northwest suburban Chicago man was convicted by a federal jury Thursday of running a multi-million dollar retail crime ring, according to federal prosecutors.
The thieves traveled across the country in vehicles registered under false names and used "booster skirts" and electronic transmitters designed to disrupt retailers’ security tags and loss-prevention measures. Using aliases, they rented storage lockers where they kept the stolen items until they could be shipped to interstate and foreign customers via the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, and FedEx.
Gilowski created a network of numerous online seller profiles, multiple bank accounts, and various companies registered in other people’s names to conduct the unlawful online sale scheme and funnel the proceeds of his illicit operation to himself. The evidence also showed that Gilowski received over a million dollars in cash from his crime ring – including $97,000 that was found in the center console of his truck – which led one of Gilowski’s coconspirators to testify at trial that Gilowski "treated money like trash."
"Mr. Gilowski and his coconspirators swiped thousands of products from retail shelves, then resold stolen goods online," said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. "We are proud to hold these defendants accountable for their crimes, and are grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of our case." "Organized retail crime leads to consumers having to pay higher prices for goods, fewer job openings, and a decrease in consumer spending on legitimate goods that small-business owners and other retailers depend on for survival," said acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Miller, HSI Dallas. "Working alongside the U. S. Attorney’s Office, U.S.