ST. LOUIS – A Canadian man has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for a brazen cross-country crime spree that left retailers in 11 states out nearly $109,000.
U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk handed down the sentence to Mohsen Akbari, 38, who used sleight-of-hand and other ruses to trick store employees into handing over cash. According to authorities, Akbari would make a small purchase and then claim that he and his family collected $100 bills, asking the cashier to examine the bills in the register.
While the cashier was distracted, Akbari would surreptitiously place some of the bills into his sleeve or pocket, making off with thousands of dollars. The scam was so effective that Akbari was able to steal a total of $109,452 from retailers in Missouri, Illinois, and at least 10 other states.
Locally, Akbari struck four times in a single week in June 2023, stealing a total of $2,420 from a Walmart in St. Peters, Missouri on June 12, $6,900 from a Granite City, Illinois store on June 13, $420 from an O’Fallon, Missouri store on June 14, and $900 from a store in Warrenton, Missouri the same day. He also stole $580 from a Walmart in Eureka, Missouri and $5,100 from an Arnold, Missouri Walmart on June 15.
Akbari admitted to stealing the total amount of $109,452, and Judge Pitlyk ordered him to repay the money. About $75,000 has already been seized from Akbari’s accounts.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Eureka Police Department, and the Arnold Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman prosecuting the case.
Akbari’s sentencing marks the end of a nearly six-month crime spree that left a trail of victims in its wake. The case serves as a reminder to retailers and customers alike to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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