Pawn Shop Scheme Lands Two in Federal Prison

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A lucrative scheme to steal over a million dollars worth of merchandise and funnel it through a local pawn shop has resulted in federal prison sentences for two key players. James Civiletti, 34, of Greece, NY, and Chad Lewis Jr., 20, also of Greece, NY, both received 14 months in prison after being convicted in connection with a sprawling retail theft operation.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the sentences handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Civiletti was found guilty of conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce, while Lewis Jr. faced conviction on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The operation, running from December 2021 through October 17, 2024, centered around the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi detailed the conspiracy, revealing that Lewis Jr. worked with a crew of serial shoplifters, including Amanda Reeves and Shabon Banks. This group systematically pilfered new, boxed items from various retail stores on a near-daily basis. The stolen goods weren’t held for personal use; they were systematically delivered to the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop, owned and operated by Dominic Sprague, and managed by Civiletti.

The pawn shop became the central hub for laundering the stolen merchandise. Civiletti and Sprague knowingly purchased the stolen items for pennies on the dollar, then flipped them for substantial profits on eBay. Over 670 transactions saw the pawn shop acquire 37,936 stolen items from Lewis Jr., Banks, and Reeves, paying the thieves a total of $290,000.00. While the thieves saw a payout, the true losses fell squarely on the victim retailers – totaling a staggering $1,160,000.00.

This wasn’t a smash-and-grab operation; it was a calculated, sustained effort to exploit the retail system. Reeves, Banks, and Sprague have also been convicted and are currently awaiting sentencing, promising further accountability for the entire criminal enterprise. The investigation, a multi-agency effort, underscores the increasing sophistication of retail theft rings and the determination of law enforcement to dismantle them.

The successful prosecution was a collaborative effort led by Homeland Security Investigations (Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan), the Internal Revenue Service (Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis), the Greece Police Department (Chief Michael Wood), and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Todd Baxter). This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly low-level theft can escalate into large-scale fraud with significant financial consequences, and those involved will face the full weight of the law.