An Oak Park jewelry store is under fire after federal authorities accused it of being a hub for selling stolen goods linked to a series of smash-and-grab robberies. Maro Jewelers, located on Greenfield, allegedly acted as a "fence," purchasing stolen items from thieves and reselling them through its business operations, as per a court filing cited by FOX 2 Detroit. Authorities suspect that Maro Jewelers was involved in the illegal resale of jewelry from over 30 robberies across Michigan and other states between August 2019 and April 2021.
Detailed in the filing was an account where authorities seized $172,380 in cash believed to be proceeds from the illicit activities. The U.S. Attorney's Office is currently seeking to have these funds forfeited. Investigations also led to the discovery of jewelry worth nearly $149,000, reported stolen from various national retailers. This includes high-value items, such as diamond rings and loose diamonds, one of which was traced back to a smash-and-grab at a Jared store in Texas. According to the documents obtained by CBS Detroit, Maro Jewelers is also being accused of laundering money by blending the revenue from the sales with their legitimate earnings, to disguise the origin of the funds.
The pattern of theft involved the robbers using sledgehammers to break the glass display cases and executing the operation with a level of precision that reduced their risk and duration of possession of the stolen items. The complaint, as reported by clickondetroit, highlights the role of the "fence" to afford robbers to immediately profit with lessened liability. Furthermore, the thieves were understood to have canvassed the locations prior to the heists, enhancing their efficacy in selecting and seizing their loot.
In addition to the more brazen smash-and-grab robberies, the operation also includes instances of "grab-and-go" thefts. In one case, a woman stole a $7,000 white gold solitaire ring from a Zales store and passed it to a co-conspirator, who the authorities believe to have sold the item to Maro Jewelers. As detailed in the complaint from the United States Attorney’s Office, the alleged fence then tried to conceal the nature of this transaction when questioned by the police. The co-conspirator was later arrested with cash on him as he left the store, again linking Maro Jewelers to the criminal chain, this time as noted in an account by clickondetroit.
Maro Jewelers' alleged involvement also extends to association with two thieves, Brian Moore and Darrell Reed, who both pleaded guilty to robbery charges connected to similar crimes. The linkage suggests a comprehensive network wherein Maro Jewelers stands as a critical node—a necessary element to render such smash-and-grab operations profitable and thus feasible. With the formal request for an arrest warrant and the forfeiture of proceeds made from the fencing operation and money laundering, the authorities look to dismantle what they paint as a crucial support mechanism for a widespread criminal enterprise.
