Sentencing in $1.16m larceny ring uncovered in Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Two men from Greece were sentenced to federal prison Thursday for their roles in a multi-year retail theft and fraud conspiracy that led to over $1 million in losses for stores.

James Civiletti, 34, and Chad Lewis Jr., 20, were each sentenced to 14 months in prison. Civiletti was convicted of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce, while Lewis Jr. was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Prosecutors said the scheme operated between December 2021 and October 2024. Lewis Jr. worked with a group of serial thieves—including Amanda Reeves and Shabon Banks—to steal thousands of brand-new retail items.

The goods were sold at steep discounts to the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop, which was owned and operated by co-defendant Dominic Sprague and managed by Civiletti.

The pawn shop resold the stolen merchandise on eBay, reaping major profits. Over the course of the scheme, the shop purchased 37,936 stolen new-in-box items across more than 670 occasions, paying the thieves $290,000. However, the total retail loss to the stores is estimated at around $1.16 million.

Reeves, Banks, and Sprague have also been convicted and are awaiting sentencing