A Federal Way man who obtained more than $1 million in stolen goods, sold them online and then received over $4 million in sales pleaded guilty in federal court and faces up to five years in prison.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), on Sept. 15, Vitaliy F. Bobak, 52, of Federal Way, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. The charge stems from Bobak and his codefendant, Andrey A. Balun, 58, of Bellevue, allegedly operating an online business out of a Burien storefront. The pair allegedly received stolen goods from boosters and then sold them on Amazon and eBay, according to the DOJ.
Bobak bought the goods below retail and then sold them through an Amazon store called Medikus and an eBay store called abcstore555. According to the DOJ, Bobak had a warehouse where he shipped goods from and hired employees to assist with sales.
The business brought in over $4.5 million between 2021, and June 2023. According to the DOJ, Bobak stated that he personally received at least $1 million from the proceeds of the business.
As part of his plea resolution, Bobak agreed to forfeit $1 million to the government.
The online store sold stolen goods such as a Braun electric shaver, sold and shipped to Rhode Island, a Keurig coffee maker, sold and shipped to Oregon, and Sonicare and Rogaine products. According to the DOJ, Bobak would buy the stolen items that had anti-theft devices attached to them that he would remove using a torch lighter or a drill.
“The scale of the sales was huge and both national and international. An analysis of the sales of the two online stores reveals that between Jan. 1, 2022, and Nov. 28, 2023, there were over 150,000 sale transactions through the abcstore555 eBay and Medikus Amazon stores,” the DOJ stated. “When search warrants were served and merchandise seized on December 19, 2023, the conspirators possessed more than 74,000 items of stolen merchandise valued at approximately $2.4 million. After the seizure, the business shut down.”
Bobak is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 3, 2025.
