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Two New York men were sentenced for fraud they committed against major retailers while living in Raleigh. Kavon Kerrick Robinson, 25, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and Christopher Anthony Hilaire, 27, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for their respective roles in the crime. Both men were also ordered to pay $32,736.74 in restitution. In July 2024, Robinson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, and Hilaire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of North Carolina.

“Retail return frauds, including double-dipping schemes like this one, cost retailers billions of dollars in losses every year,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley Jr. “These schemes drive prices higher for the rest of us and harm everyday consumers whose credit card information is stolen to facilitate the scheme. We are proud to partner with the NC Retail Merchants Association to raise awareness of these scams and bring them to a stop.”

“Schemes such as retail return fraud are just one example of organized retail crime in North Carolina. North Carolina’s retailers are appreciative of U.S. Attorney Easley’s commitment to fighting organized retail crime in Eastern North Carolina and his willingness to take an aggressive stance against well-organized professional theft networks that prey on North Carolina businesses,” said Andy Ellen, president and general counsel of the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. “Organized retail crime is not only a crime against property, but a crime against people, often tied to other serious crimes such as opioids, identity theft, and human trafficking. It is very important that offenders be prosecuted to the fullest extent of North Carolina’s law for the good of the economy and the safety of our communities.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Robinson and Hilaire lived together in Raleigh from April 2022 until November 2022. “During this time, Robinson would purchase stolen credit card information from the dark web using cryptocurrency. Robinson, Hilaire, and others would use that stolen information to make online purchases from a variety of major retailers (including Lowe’s Home Improvement, Home Depot, Michaels, and Walmart), restaurants, and gas stations,” stated the release. “For items purchased from major retailers, Robinson would focus on certain items he knew he could resell. For example, Robinson purchased a large number of Google Nest thermostats from Lowe’s Home Improvement because he had a buyer for those items. Sometimes, Robinson would travel to New York to sell the items. In other instances, he would return the items to obtain a cash refund. In addition to assisting Robinson and obtaining goods for his own use, Hilaire would provide instructions to others regarding how to execute similar schemes.”

Easley made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the cases and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe prosecuted.

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