HARTFORD, CT – Salim Sakal, 55, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Monday by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport for his involvement in an organized jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across multiple states. The court ordered Sakal to serve 24 months followed by three years of supervised release, with a restitution payment of $2,471,457.
Sakal pleaded guilty on January 27th for conspiracy to sell and receive stolen goods. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, Sakal conspired with members of an organized jewelry theft ring that burglarized stores in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia between May 2023 and April 2024. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $4.4 million.
Court records indicate that Sakal was the co-owner of Ramoun Jewelry in Corona, New York, which sold jewelry to retail customers while also purchasing items from third parties without a valid second-hand dealer license required by law and failing to maintain necessary documentation as mandated by regulations. Investigators found evidence showing Sakal paid cash for stolen merchandise at a fraction of its actual value before reselling it or having the gold melted down.
The FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force in New Haven, along with numerous local police departments from across multiple states, conducted this investigation. Despite extensive efforts, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement to date.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan acknowledged contributions from various federal agencies and state authorities for their assistance in bringing Sakal to justice. The case highlights ongoing challenges faced by retailers and law enforcement alike as organized crime increasingly targets high-value items like fine jewelry across multiple jurisdictions.