PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A Pittsburgh man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a major money laundering and retail theft conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Durrell Waters, 41, operated several resale shops across the Pittsburgh area, including Trader Electronics, Last Call Entertainment, and The Outlet. Prosecutors say Waters used these businesses as fronts between 2013 and 2016 to launder money tied to stolen merchandise.
The operation centered around purchasing stolen health and beauty products, over-the-counter medications, and other retail goods from repeat shoplifters known as “boosters.” These individuals sold new, unopened merchandise at a fraction of its retail value—often to fund drug addiction, the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted.
Waters’ stores knowingly bought hundreds of thousands of stolen items, including DVDs, vitamins, teeth whiteners, and skincare products. The items were then resold online, primarily through Amazon and eBay storefronts. One Amazon account linked to the scheme brought in over $4.3 million in revenue during the conspiracy.
At sentencing, Judge Mark Hornak described the case as “extensive” and noted that it contributed to a wider public harm—impacting addicted individuals, legitimate retailers, and everyday consumers.
The widespread consequences included:
Increased retail prices due to heightened security measures
Support of addiction through illicit payments to boosters
Undermining trust in online marketplaces
Waters’ conviction underscores the intersection between retail theft and organized crime, particularly how seemingly small-scale shoplifting can fuel multi-million-dollar illegal enterprises.
