Prison for Streamwood man convicted of fraud

A 40-year-old Streamwood man convicted of federal fraud charges was sentenced to six and a half years in prison.

Ahmet Keskes’ sentence was handed down Tuesday, nearly a year after his conviction at trial of selling stolen merchandise over a variety of Internet sites.

Federal prosecutors said Keskes sold nearly 80,000 items over a variety of online retail sites and pocketed roughly $4.6 million between 2006 and 2009, despite knowing that most of the items were stolen from retailers. According to evidence presented at trial, Keskes bought items from organized retail theft crews, often directing them to specific items.

The loss to retailers was estimated at more than $1 million. In addition to prison, Keskes was ordered to repay $640,810 to the retailers where merchandise he sold online could be traced to.

The items stolen and sold included perfumes, skin care products, golf clubs, artwork, pet products and toys. The retailers targeted included Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, Callaway and Hobby Lobby. Some items still had store security tags on them, prosecutors said.

Keskes will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, which amounts to a little more than five and a half years behind bars. He will begin his sentence in June, U.S. Department of Justice officials said.