A Gates, New York woman has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for her involvement in a retail theft ring that resulted in over $1 million in losses to major retailers. Shabon Banks, 42, received a 63-month sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford after being convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was also ordered to pay $92,903.34 in restitution to companies including Best Buy, Home Depot, Kohls, Lowes, Macy’s, Target, and Walmart.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the sentencing on Tuesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi said that between December 2021 and October 17, 2024, Banks worked with other individuals—Amanda Reeves and Chad Lewis—in a scheme centered around the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop. The shop was owned by Dominic Sprague and managed by James Civiletti.
According to prosecutors, Banks and her co-conspirators stole new-in-box merchandise from store shelves on a frequent basis before selling the goods to the pawn shop at reduced prices. The pawn shop then resold these items online for higher amounts.
"The pawn shop purchased 37,936 stolen new-in-box items from Lewis, Jr., Banks, and Reeves on more than 670 occasions, for which the larcenists were paid $290,000.00," said Rossi. "The actual losses to the victim-retailers were approximately $1,160,000.00."
Authorities said Banks also used another person’s identification during transactions at the pawn shop and endangered others during high-speed chases while fleeing law enforcement in both 2022 and 2024.
Reeves, Banks herself, Sprague, and Civiletti have all previously been convicted for their roles in the scheme.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations; the Internal Revenue Service; Greece Police Department; and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
