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03/19/2018 12:00 AMJohn H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Paul William Muzyka, 48, of North Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to charges related to his role in a large-scale fencing operation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Muzyka helped operate a licensed secondhand store, Ace Amusements, located at 42 Kimberly Avenue in New Haven. At Ace Amusements, Muzyka and others knowingly purchased stolen property from "boosters," who typically were shoplifters with opioid addictions. The boosters stole the goods from retail stores such as Home Depot, Walmart, Target and Kohl's, and sold the goods at Ace Amusements for approximately one-third of their retail prices. Muzyka and others then resold the stolen goods at Ace Amusements, and also online at websites such as eBay.
The loss attributed this scheme exceeds $5.9 million.
Muzyka pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit the interstate transport of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transport of stolen property, an an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Muzyka is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Chief State's Attorney's Office, and the New Haven, North Haven, Milford, West Haven, Wallingford, Hamden and Orange Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and David T. Huang.