Queens Couple Charged in $2M Retail Theft Ring Targeting Luxury Brands

Christopher Guzman and Yvelisse Guzman Batista are accused of running a large-scale operation stealing and reselling high-end goods, marking the first use of New York's new anti-fencing law.

Authorities allege the couple orchestrated a theft ring that stole luxury items from retailers like Macy's, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty, amassing over $2 million in profits.
The operation involved stolen goods being resold online, in Queens, and shipped to the Dominican Republic under the guise of a storefront business.
The arrests are the first under New York's new law criminalizing the sale of stolen goods, with the defendants facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Investigators recovered 50,000 items worth $1 million, including designer handbags, cosmetics, and clothing, along with ghost gun components during the bust.
The investigation, dubbed 'Operation Fashionably Fencing,' was led by state and federal agencies, utilizing undercover agents to infiltrate the operation and gather evidence.