Baltimore, Maryland - Noel Erik Anshel, age 48, of Owings Mills, Maryland pleaded guilty today to transportation of stolen goods.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Brian Murphy of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; Chief Gary Gardner of the Howard County Police Department; and Commissioner Kevin Davis of the Baltimore Police Department.
According to Anshel’s plea agreement, from Jan. 1, 2010 to Jan. 1, 2014, he was part owner of Hilltop Cellular, a pawn shop located in the 5400 block of Reisterstown Road in Baltimore. Anshel was the sole owner and manager of the shop from Jan. 1, 2014 to Aug. 12, 2015.
Anshel admitted that beginning from at least Jan. 1, 2010 and continuing through Aug. 12, 2015, he paid cash to “boosters," a common term for shoplifters, in exchange for stolen products, including construction tools, pressure washers, kitchen appliances, electrical generators, and consumer electronics. The products were frequently new and still in the original box. The boosters brought the stolen items to Hilltop Cellular, where Anshel purchased the items, knowing that the boosters stole them from retail establishments. Anshel paid the boosters far less than the products’ retail value. Anshel paid at least three of his “regular" boosters over $40,000 each for stolen products.
Anshel had a license to resell “second-hand" merchandise at Hillside Cellular, but would list the stolen items on eBay as “new" and “brand new." Most of the stolen items were sold to individuals residing outside of Maryland, and Anshel would ship the items through the U.S. Post Service and other commercial carriers.
During an investigation of an individual believed to be stealing items from a Home Depot store, Howard County Police Department officers followed the individual from a Home Depot store where the individual stole several items, to Hilltop Cellular where the individual sold the items to Anshel. According to his plea agreement, investigators spoke with Anshel who stated that, “90% of what I buy is stolen," and “it’s the cost of doing business." A subsequent search warrant executed at Hilltop Cellular recovered stolen property worth approximately $20,000, including dishwashers and circular saws.
The total estimated loss from the scheme is approximately $550,000. Anshel used the proceeds of the scheme to purchase, among other things, six houses in Baltimore.
As part of his plea agreement, Anshel will be required to forfeit the six properties, funds held in four PayPal accounts and six bank accounts, as well as property seized from his pawn shop.
Anshel and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Anshel will be sentenced to 46 months in prison. U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz has scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the U.S. Secret Service, Howard County Police Department, and Baltimore City Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron S. J. Zelinsky, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
