Tamara Khatuntseva, Wire Fraud, Massachusetts 2024

West Roxbury Woman Swindles Runway Stores out of Thousands

BOSTON – In a brazen scheme involving inferior merchandise refunds, a West Roxbury woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court.

Tamara Khatuntseva, 64, admitted to engaging 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 ran from December 2018 through approximately August 2020, with Khatuntseva returning merchandise purportedly purchased from the store but actually not purchased from the store and was of inferior quality, for a full refund and then selling the legitimate merchandise on the internet.

According to investigators, 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 company’s loss as a result of Khatuntseva participation in this scheme is estimated to be between $40,000 and $150,000.

The charge of wire fraud carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, forfeiture, and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. 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.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of white-collar crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. As Grimy Times continues to shine a light on these types of crimes, we urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

Sentencing for Khatuntseva is scheduled for December 6, 2021.

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