Ilana Kessler and Drew Reminick, both 29, of Oceanside, allegedly sold stolen property on eBay and other websites
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of an Oceanside couple for participating in a scheme to steal thousands in merchandise and shipping costs from a Syosset online retailer and selling the company’s goods and services as if they were their own.
Drew Reminick, 29, was arrested today and arraigned on charges of Grand Larceny in the 2nd Degree (a C felony) and Scheme to Defraud in the 1st Degree (an E felony) before Nassau District Court Judge Paul Meli, who set bail at $5,000 bond or $2,500 cash.
Ilana Kessler, also known as Ilana Kessler-Reminick, 29, was arrested and arraigned on March 19 on the same charges before Nassau District Court Judge Darlene Harris, who set bail at $5,000 bond or $2,500 cash. Both defendants are due back in court on April 24
If convicted of the top charge, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.
“Retailers rely on their employees to be honest ambassadors of their company to the customers that keep them in business,” Acting DA Singas said. “When employees attempt to capitalize on that relationship for their own personal gain, everyone – including customers, fellow employees and business owners – is hurt by their criminal conduct.”
Acting DA Singas said that ArmorMount LLC, an online store located in Syosset selling flat panel television wall mounts, employed Kessler in a contracted sales management capacity. From 2012 to 2014, with the assistance of her husband, Drew Reminick, Kessler allegedly stole merchandise from her employer during the course of her employment. The couple would then sell the stolen items through multiple methods, including on eBay.
After discovering a series of illegitimate transactions and thefts, ArmorMount filed a complaint to the DA office’s Criminal Complaint Unit.
The DA office’s subsequent investigation showed that a substantial amount of transactions were fulfilled using merchandise stolen from ArmorMount, for which the retailer was also billed for shipping, resulting in over $200,000 in losses.
Assistant District Attorneys Brian Heid and April Montgomery are prosecuting the case for Acting DA Singas’ Economic Crimes Bureau. Kessler is represented by Kyce Siddiqi, Esq.; Reminick is represented by David Mirsky, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.