Tamara Khatuntseva, Wire Fraud, Massachusetts 2021

BOSTON, MA - In a shocking turn of events, Tamara Khatuntseva, a 64-year-old West Roxbury woman, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme involving inferior merchandise refunds.

According to court documents, Khatuntseva engaged in a scheme to defraud a store through refunds of inferior merchandise, including high-end and expensive jewelry, clothing, purses, handbags, luggage, and shoes. The scheme, which occurred from December 2018 through approximately August 2020, resulted in a loss of between $40,000 and $150,000 for the company.

Khatuntseva admitted to returning merchandise purportedly purchased from the store, but that was actually not purchased from the store and was of inferior quality, for a full refund and then selling the legitimate merchandise on the internet. For example, Khatuntseva was captured on video surveillance purchasing a pink Gucci scarf for $399, which was then listed for sale on an eBay site associated with Khatuntseva. Several days later, video surveillance showed Khatuntseva returning a different scarf – with the same bar code – and receiving a full refund.

The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, forfeiture, and restitution. Sentencing for Khatuntseva is scheduled for December 6, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

Khatuntseva was charged on July 20, 2021. The investigation into the scheme was initiated by law enforcement in December 2018, and it is suspected that multiple individuals were involved in the scheme to defraud runway stores across Massachusetts.

Tamara Khatuntseva, 64, is a resident of West Roxbury, Massachusetts. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/west-roxbury-woman-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud