Skip Navigation

News Releases

March 9, 2007

Six indicted in Bay Area retail crime ring that led to seizure of more than 20 truckloads of stolen merchandise

OAKLAND, Calif. - A federal grand jury in Oakland yesterday indicted six Bay Area residents for their role in a crime ring that purchased merchandise stolen from major retailers, sold the goods over the Internet, and shipped them to other states.

The six were charged yesterday along with Rosemont Wholesale Inc., a California corporation located in Hayward, Calif., with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to engage in interstate transportation of stolen goods. The indictment stems from a nearly two-year investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oakland Police Department.

According to court filings, the defendants were allegedly involved in a criminal ring that purchased merchandise stolen from major retailers, including Safeway, Target, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart. The ring then sold the goods, such as baby formula and medical supplies, over the Internet and shipped them to other states. The owners of two Oakland convenience stores-Kings Food Market and 1 Star Discount Store-allegedly bought the goods from these individuals at prices far below their actual value and sold the products both at their convenience stores and over the Internet. Much of the merchandise was allegedly transferred to Rosemont Wholesale's warehouse in Hayward, and Rosemont Wholesale allegedly advertised the retail merchandise over the Internet on the website http://www.wholesaleramp.com.

The following individuals were indicted in connection with the case:

  • Hassan Swaid, 37, of Fremont, the president and owner of Rosemont Wholesale, Inc.;

  • Sufian Al-Khalidi, 45, of San Leandro, an employee of Rosemont Wholesale;

  • Mossleh Amari, 46, of San Leandro, an employee at Kings Food Market;

  • Nabil Munasar Al Zoqari, 23, an employee of 1 Star Discount Store;

  • Basheer Ammari, 23, of San Leandro, the son of Mossleh Amari; and

  • Mohammad Aldhufri, 24, an employee of 1 Star Discount Store.

The owner of Kings Food Market, Munasar Alzoqari, 51, is still being sought by authorities.

On February 8, federal agents executed search warrants at six locations in the East Bay including the two Oakland convenience stores and Rosemont Wholesale's warehouse in Hayward. The searches uncovered cases of vitamins, cold medicine, other over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, baby formula, and hygiene products. More than 20 tractor-trailer loads of merchandise were uncovered and seized at the Hayward warehouse. Searches of the dumpsters outside the warehouse during the investigation turned up thousands of discarded security tags and bar code labels from major retailers.

Conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to engage in interstate transportation of stolen goods carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty facing the indicted corporation, Rosemont Wholesale Inc., is $500,000, or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss that resulted from the conspiracy.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: