Pictured: Seized Items from Basement of REHANA’S COSMETICS INC.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of BIBI REHANA KHAN, 54, AARON KHAN, 40, and REHANA’S COSMETICS INC. for possessing more than $1 million in stolen goods as part of a retail theft fencing operation. The investigation was the result of a long-term investigation with cooperation from Macy’s, Ulta Beauty, CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid. The defendants are all charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree. [1]
“Retail theft is a scourge that impacts our local businesses and jeopardizes the safety of employees and customers alike. We must use every tool in our toolbox to address the root causes of retail theft, and a critical piece of that is upstream, proactive investigations into those who stand to profit. In addition to disrupting fencing networks, we will continue to target the small number of recidivists who are driving a significant amount of retail theft and ensure appropriate accountability,” said District Attorney Bragg.
According to court documents and statements made on the record, REHANA’S COSMETICS, INC., a perfume and cosmetics store that operated online and at 870 6th Avenue in Manhattan, possessed more than $1 million in stolen property from shoplifters, including many items not typically sold in perfume and cosmetics stores. The store was a well-known destination to bring stolen goods.
In January 2024, the Office executed search warrants on the business and two of its storage units in 1234 Broadway. Investigators recovered cosmetics, beauty supplies, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, electronic grooming devices, clothing, designer handbags, backpacks, toys, kitchenware and household appliances, Lego sets, coffee machines and vacuums, among other items.
The amount of stolen property seized filled 450 medium cardboard boxes. $212,000 worth of the stolen property was from Macy’s alone. The rest of the stolen items were from CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, Duane Reade, Ulta Beauty, Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, and the NHL Store.
Pictured: Items Seized from Storage Unit
Proactive fencing investigations are one of several strategies the Office is using to combat retail theft. In 2022, the Office created the Manhattan Small Business Alliance to reduce shoplifting and commercial robberies in partnership with small business leaders in every neighborhood of Manhattan. The comprehensive plan developed with the Alliance focuses on holding recidivists accountable; developing proactive investigations into organized retail theft and fencing operations; and improving coordination with local businesses and the NYPD, all while enhancing services and other programmatic solutions.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A.s Kenneth N. Moore, Jr. and Zachary Weintraub, under the supervision of Jodie Kane (Chief of the Rackets Bureau and Acting Chief of the Investigation Division), Judy Salwen (Principal Deputy Chief of the Rackets Bureau), and Michael Ohm (Chief of the Major Economic Crimes Bureau). Paralegal Julianne Hegarty, Senior Investigator Samuel Morales; Supervising Investigators Daniel Clark-El and Investigators Christopher Liao, Steven Mariscal, Keven Polanco, May Dempsey, Quasie Taylor, Danielle Diaz, Patrick Lee; FAFI Forensic Accountant Robert Pomeroy; and Analyst Boris Vestrid are all assisting with the case. Former paralegal Yanisa Campusano and Assistant State’s Attorney Michael J. Casson in the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office also provided assistance.
D.A. Bragg thanked CVS Investigators Michael Burke, Jeremy Greenleaf, Salvatore D’Amico, Timothy Piestrazewski, Thomas Donahue, Jose Varela; Ulta Beauty Investigators Carolyn Doran, Chris Marquez, Denzel Thomas, James Brucato; Macy’s Investigator Israel Herrera, Franklin Garcia, Dermot Fitzsimons, Richele Callender, Jessica Velez, Kelly Hansen; former Rite Aid investigator John Moore; Walgreens investigator Eric Finkelstein; Victoria’s Secret Investigators Ed Jean-Baptiste, Kevin Fitzgerald, Joe Hadju, and Anthony White.
Defendant Information:
BIBI REHANA KHAN
Mount Vernon, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a B class felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
AARON KHAN
Bronx, New York
Charged:
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a B class felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
REHANA’S COSMETICS INC.
New York, New York
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the First Degree, a B class felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
- Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count
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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.