PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Federal documents show three people were involved in an operation to resell stolen goods online in Hampton Roads.
The Portsmouth store was known as the Bargain Empire, and was located in a strip mall around High Street and London Boulevard.
In October 2021, Rashid Elhassani, Adil Elhassani and Laura Ortiz were indicted by a grand jury on charges including conspiracy, money laundering and interstate transportation of stolen property.
The operation reportedly took place over a period of nearly three years, from January 2018 to December 2020.
Court documents say shoplifters steal items such as power tools, printer ink cartridges, electronics and razors — from stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Lowes in Hampton Roads. Those shoplifters took the items to the location of Bargain Empire.
There, the defendants paid in cash — knowing it was stolen — and listed it for sale online through eBay and Amazon accounts.
According to court records, eBay and Amazon accounts linked to the defendants had more than $5,000 in interstate merchandise sales.
Court documents show that search warrants were executed at two storage units linked to Ortiz in December 2020 in Bergen Empire and Hampton.
Police seized thousands of items from the store, including printing ink cartridges and power tools. This includes a generator and a sawmill connected to Lowes on Victory Boulevard in Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, the police seized items such as laptops, electronics and razors from the storage rooms. Other items include a vertical vacuum cleaner connected to a Chromebook from Home Depot in Virginia Beach and Best Buy in Newport News.
The owner of a business deal empire is constantly busy at the store.
“When they first came, I thought it was just like a thrift store,” said the owner of Passions Exclusive Cutz and Stylez. “A lot of people came. [and] He brought things into boxes.
“I thought it was just business as usual,” he added.
Rashid Elhassani and Laura Ortiz both pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Rasheed’s sentencing is set for later this month, while Ortiz’s is set for March.
WTKR reached out to both of their attorneys on Wednesday, but both declined to comment on the matter.
Court records indicate Adil Elhassani has not yet been arrested and may be out of the country.
