eBay seller sued for selling $3.2 million in stolen goods

According to foreign media reports, in New York State, USA, a pawn shop owner named Devin Tribunella likes to buy stolen goods from thieves and then sell them on eBay.

Tribunaira would advertise the goods as new and at prices below market value. Although the selling prices were relatively low, it was still a "buy low , sell high" business because the reward paid to the thieves was only a fraction of the goods' true retail value.

Not only that, the boss's "business acumen" is quite good, and he likes to cater to market demand. To achieve this goal, Tribuna often suggests which stores (such as Lowe's, Home Depot, Target and Walmart ) the thieves should go to and what types of goods they should steal .

Data shows that between January 2017 and November 2019 , Tribunella sold more than $3.2 million worth of stolen goods .

However, Tribunaira's activities did not escape the eyes of the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. Department of Justice's official website shows that Tribunaira was charged with transporting stolen goods in interstate commerce. It is understood that this charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Tribunaira has pleaded guilty to selling stolen property . As part of his plea, Tribunaira will forfeit $ 200,000 in cash , four luxury cars, and will be required to pay a $1.6 million fine .

In fact, this kind of thing happens not only on eBay, but also on Amazon. Last September, news reported that US investigator Dugan expected 73 cases of selling stolen goods on Amazon in 2021, far higher than the 27 cases in 2020.

As online shopping in the United States reaches record levels, organized retail crime has spread. And American retailers are fighting back. In December, nearly 22 U.S. retail company CEOs strongly supported legislation targeting marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay in a letter to congressional leaders. The bill requires online giants to verify seller and buyer information.

Amazon spokesman Alex Haurek said the company does not tolerate the sale of stolen goods and works with law enforcement and retailers to stop bad actors, including withholding funds, closing accounts and referring to law enforcement. He said the company spent $700 million last year to combat fraud on its platform.

Selling stolen goods

eBay Sellers