ST. LOUIS — A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday and admitted taking part in a retail fraud conspiracy that stole or attempted to steal $157,229, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Bazili Anghel Anghel pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal reentry. In his plea, Anghel admitted that he and others used a sleight-of-hand cash-counting scheme at stores on at least 90 occasions in Missouri and 19 other states.
Federal prosecutors said the group brought electronics to cashiers and counted the purchase price into piles. While gathering the cash, participants slipped bills from the bottom of the stack into a pocket or purse, then handed over less than the full amount. The merchandise was later returned at another store for a full refund.
Anghel is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 6, 2027. A guilty plea is an admission of the charged conduct; the court will determine the sentence under federal law and applicable guidelines.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karin Schute is prosecuting it.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri.
