Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Chester Culler, 48, from Queens, New York, was sentenced to nine months in prison by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. This sentence is followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding TJX stores of over $400,000 across 30 states. The first 18 months of his supervised release will be served under home incarceration.
Court documents and statements reveal that between July 2020 and February 2024, Culler committed more than 800 acts of theft and fraudulent transactions at TJX Companies, Inc., which includes T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, among others. Culler's method involved stealing merchandise from a store, fraudulently returning it for a gift card, making purchases with the card and cash to get a receipt, altering the receipt to show an all-cash purchase, and then returning items with the altered receipt for cash refunds. This scheme resulted in approximately $416,417.88 in losses for TJX.
Culler was arrested on February 7, 2024, by Wethersfield Police after a complaint from a Marshalls' Loss Prevention investigator in Wethersfield. At arrest time, he had identifications under different names: Chester Culler, “David Peace,” and “Chester Tyler.” Initially charged with state offenses in Connecticut and later by federal criminal complaint in the Western District of New York, the case was transferred to Connecticut for prosecution.
On April 30, 2024, Culler pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in New Haven federal court. Judge Shea has ordered full restitution payment and banned him from entering any TJX stores.
Since his arrest until his guilty plea when released on bond on March 27th this year (and currently living under house arrest), Culler is required to report back into custody as he lives with third-party supervision using electronic monitoring but can attend medical appointments including dialysis sessions multiple times weekly due to health issues.
Culler's criminal record shows over twenty convictions related mainly towards fraudulent activities amongst other crimes; notably serving four years previously back during early parts within Stuart Florida’s justice system stemming out investigations concerning fictitious driver licenses used within organized groups targeting chain retail outlets throughout various states using similar methods involving manipulated receipts alongside return policies exploitation tactics alike seen now again present herein today too.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with assistance provided through local police departments plus efforts contributed via TJX Loss Prevention investigators themselves directly involved here too altogether working collaboratively together overall collectively toward successful prosecution led forth jointly handled respectively through Assistant U.S Attorneys Anastasia E King Nancy V Gifford representing District Connecticut whilst also having support coming additionally outside area covered furthered likewise seen included involvement courtesy Aaron J Mango assisting Western New York district regionally accordingly duly noted herein mentioned above finally concluding summary details outlined therein entirety explained thus far comprehensively thoroughly concluded reported stated facts documented truthfully accurately factually confirmed assuredly affirmed correctly stated above regarding said events transpired occurring 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