Police raid 2 Chinatown shops accused of ‘organized retail crime’
Two Chinatown discount stores were stuffed with common household items police say were stolen from other stores.
Three employees of My-Tan Fashion and Super 99 Cents Plus, discount household goods and clothing stores in Chinatown, were arrested Wednesday night in connection to an organized retail crime scheme that involved more than $100,000 of merchandise, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
Phuong Quach, 54, of Dorchester, Feng Deng, 71, of Quincy, and Cindy Tran, 49, of Malden, were charged with receiving stolen property over $250, distributing counterfeit goods, and aggravated organized retail crime, authorities said. They were the first to be charged under a new retail crime statute that passed in April.
“This isn’t a shoplifting case,’’ District Attorney Dan Conley said. “This is the very reason the organized retail crime statute was signed into law. We allege that the defendants played a knowing role in the theft and unlawful resale of tens of thousands of dollars.’’
The three allegedly bought cosmetics, household goods, clothing, and toiletries from shoplifters who had stolen the items from other businesses downtown. My-Tan Fashion then sold the merchandise for prices that were significantly less than competitors in the area and even dropped below the wholesale price, according to the DA’s office. Sometimes, authorities said, the shop owners requested shoplifters steal specific items they needed to stock up on and pasted new prices directly over the one stamped on by the original retailer, authorities said.
During the 10-month investigation, police apprehended multiple shoplifters who said they stole the items with the intent of reselling them to My-Tan Fashion, according to the DA’s office. Authorities executed a search warrant at the store yesterday and recovered about 5,000 items that are estimated to be valued at more than $100,000. There was no cash register, records, or paperwork detailing inventory orders or sales, authorities said
In addition to stolen products, the store was also selling counterfeit Burberry and Coach bags and wallets, according to the DA’s office.
Quach, Deng, and Tran were released on bail Thursday after surrendering their passports, authorities said. They are due back in court January 25.
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