Former Rochester pawn shop owner going to prison for selling stolen goods

 

Date: March 22, 2023

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Devin Tribunella, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. Tribunella was also ordered to forfeit a 2008 Lamborghini, a 2014 Mercedes Benz, a 2014 Rolls Royce, a 2015 Porsche, the contents of three bank accounts totaling $155,182.87, and a $1,600,000 money judgment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that Tribunella owned and operated Royal Crown Pawn & Jewelry on Dewey Avenue in Rochester. Tribunella and an employee purchased stolen goods and merchandise from individuals, commonly referred to as "boosters," who shoplifted the goods and merchandise from Rochester area retail stores. Tribunella routinely advised the boosters what type of merchandise to steal from the retail stores, such as Lowes, Home Depot, Target, and Walmart, and then paid the boosters a fraction of the true retail value for the goods. Tribunella listed the stolen goods for sale on eBay, advertising the goods as "New" or "New-In-Box" and priced below retail value. Between January 2017, and November 2019, Tribunella sold and shipped (or caused to be shipped) approximately $3,248,426 worth of those stolen goods to buyers located outside of New York State.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith; the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood. Additional assistance was provided by the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.