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Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 48 Months for International Bank Heists
A multi-year scheme in which a Brooklyn man and his co-conspirators stole millions of dollars from bank safety deposit boxes in seven foreign countries has come to an end. Garri Smith, 52, was sentenced to 48 months in prison by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on [month/day/year].
Smith pled guilty to the charge of money laundering conspiracy in June 2022. He was accused of using deception and high-tech medical equipment to break into safety deposit boxes and steal millions of dollars, jewelry, and even gold bars from customers around the world.
“Smith used deception and high-tech medical equipment to break into safety deposit boxes and steal millions of dollars, jewelry and even gold bars from customers around the world,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This prosecution represents our continued commitment to combat theft and fraud, and put a stop to individuals who seek to use U.S. banks to launder their ill-gotten gains.”
According to court filings, Smith and other members of the conspiracy would pose as customers at the target banks in countries including Ukraine, Russia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Latvia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan. They would rent safety deposit boxes, sometimes using fake identification documents, and then use specialized medical equipment to take photographs of the inside of the locks on other customers’ safety deposit boxes.
Using these photographs, the conspirators created duplicate keys to access the safety deposit boxes and used those keys to steal money and other valuables, including jewelry and gold bars, from the banks’ customers. For his role in the thefts, Smith is accountable for a loss of $5.1 million.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Lash, Joy Lurinsky, Megan Larkin, and Brian Morris. The case highlights the global nature of financial crimes and the need for international cooperation to combat them.
Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation for the assistance of the New York City Police Department, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol), and the governments of Azerbaijan, Latvia, Moldova, North Macedonia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan in the investigation.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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