Long Island Pawn Shop Owner Gets Prison For Running $2M Retail Theft Ring

The owner of a Long Island pawn shop will spend years in prison and lose his business license after leading a multimillion-dollar retail theft ring.

Carlos Ulloa.
Photo Credit: *Suffolk County District Attorney's Office*

Michael Mashburn

02/06/2024 1:00 p.m.

Carlos Ulloa, age 51, of Patchogue, was sentenced to three to nine years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Feb. 2, after pleading guilty to corruption and related charges.

According to prosecutors, between May 2020 and August 2022 Ulloa regularly received stolen goods from Suffolk County retailers at his business, EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry in Brentwood.

Earlier Report: 4 Nabbed In Million-Dollar Suffolk County Retail Theft Ring, DA Says

The items were then taken to a warehouse in Patchogue where they were photographed, inventoried, and listed for sale online.

Ulloa and his associates reportedly made over $1 million a year in profit from the scheme.

In August 2022, Suffolk County Police uncovered the stolen goods while executing search warrants at Ulloa’s pawn shop and residence, as well as the Patchogue warehouse. Officers also recovered an unlicensed, stolen handgun at this home.

Ulloa pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption, money laundering, and criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies, in September 2023.

In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to surrender his Dealers in Second-Hand Articles and Precious Metal/Gems licenses to the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing, and Consumer Affairs.

As a result, he will not be able to enter any businesses involving pawn shops or purchasing second-hand articles for reselling.

He also forfeited over $968,000 in criminal proceeds, as well as another $1 million in stolen merchandise.

The following additional defendants previously pleaded guilty for their roles:

Sandra Cruz, age 25, of Patchogue – A manager at the Patchogue warehouse where the stolen items were stored; Pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and is awaiting sentencing.
Sandra Hinds, age 47, of Brentwood – A manager at EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry; Pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and is awaiting sentencing.
Henry Delgado, age 42, of Brentwood – An associate who laundered the criminal proceeds; Pleaded guilty to attempted enterprise corruption and is awaiting sentencing.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Brentwood and receive free news updates.