Colonie Man Sentenced for Swiping $100,000 in Stolen Merchandise

A Chinese citizen has been sentenced to 25 months in prison for transporting stolen property across state lines, including $100,000 worth of merchandise swiped from home improvement stores.

Wu Feng Zhang, 54, a Colonie resident, was handed down the sentence by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. Zhang’s guilty plea, which led to the sentence, admitted to stealing merchandise from stores in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and New York between June and December 2022.

The stolen goods were transported to Zhang’s residence in Colonie, where they were discovered by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) during a search on January 11, 2023. The agency’s investigation, assisted by the Colonie Police Department, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, uncovered the extent of Zhang’s theft scheme.

As part of his sentence, Zhang was also ordered to pay $296,881.92 in restitution to the two home improvement store chains from which he stole. Additionally, he was required to forfeit $3,257.76 seized from two bank accounts.

United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, praised the collaborative effort that led to Zhang’s conviction. ‘This case highlights the importance of interagency cooperation in combating interstate crime,’ said Freedman.

Zhang’s sentence serves as a reminder that transporting stolen property across state lines is a serious offense. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping, who worked closely with the investigative agencies to bring Zhang to justice.

As the investigation revealed, Zhang’s theft scheme had far-reaching consequences for the businesses and individuals affected. The restitution ordered by the court will help to compensate those who suffered losses due to Zhang’s actions.

HSI’s Matthew Scarpino emphasized the significance of the case, stating, ‘This sentence demonstrates our commitment to protecting American businesses and consumers from cross-border crime.’