Man Faces 25 Years in Prison for Running $20 Million Retail Crime Ring

An Illinois man was convicted at trial of running a retail crime ring and now faces up to 25 years in prison.

Artur Gilowski, 48, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to evidence presented at trial, he enlisted thieves who stole tens of thousands of products – valued at over $20 million – from retail stores across the country. The thieves then shipped the pilfered goods to Gilowski, who sold them on various ecommerce platforms, generating more than $11 million in profits.

The thieves registered under false names and used “booster skirts” (garments with concealment pouches for stolen goods) as well as electronic transmitters designed to disrupt retailers’ anti-theft and loss-prevention measures.

Gilowski received more than 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 his coconspirators to testify at trial that Gilowski “treated money like trash.”

Five of his co-conspirators pleaded guilty prior to trial. Gilowski is set for sentencing on August 2.