A North Haven man pleaded guilty in federal court last week to participating in a New Haven fencing operation that allegedly bought and sold almost $6 million of stolen goods, authorities said.
Paul William Muzyka, 48, admitted in U.S. District Court in Hartford to one count each of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property and interstate transport of stolen property, the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The ring ran out of Ace Amusements, a second-hand store at 42 Kimberly Ave. Muzyka and others knowingly purchased items from “boosters,” typically shoplifters with opioid addictions, for about a third of their retail prices and then sold them at the store and on websites, including Ebay, federal officials said.
Victims included Home Depot, Walmart, Kohl’s and Target, they said. Federal authorities put the loss to retailers at more than $5.9 million.
Muzyka faces up to 15 years in prison. He is free in lieu of $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and David T. Huang are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the New Haven police department.
Christopher Hoffman can be reached at news@newhavenbiz.com
