Seattle – A massive stolen goods trafficking operation has been brought to a halt as Vitaliy F. Bobak, 53, from Federal Way, Washington, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for his role in the scheme. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, Bobak and co-defendant Andrey A. Balun, 58, jointly owned MBA Trading LLC, operating under ‘We Buy Gold, Silver, and Electronics’ at a Burien storefront. The duo sold stolen merchandise on Amazon or eBay for millions in profit.
Bobak admitted to purchasing stolen goods since 2020, primarily over-the-counter medications and health/beauty products, many still with anti-theft devices. He bought the goods far below retail price and sold them online through ‘Medikus’ on Amazon and ‘abcstore555’ on eBay. The indictment links proceeds from these stores directly to Bobak’s and Balun’s bank accounts.
Between 2021 and June 2023, the operation netted over $4.5 million. Bobak personally obtained at least $1 million in proceeds, which he used for personal expenses like a $66,000 Lexus. The seizure of more than 74,000 items valued at nearly $2.4 million on December 19, 2023, brought the operation to an end.
Bobak is due to be sentenced on December 3, 2025, with a potential sentence of up to five years in prison for conspiracy to transport stolen property. Balun faces a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on February 23, 2026. Both men are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with significant help from the Renton Police Department, Seattle Police Department, and the IRS. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite and Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Krista Bush are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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