Chicago Police have arrested two southwest suburban men suspected of selling stolen iPhones, counterfeit merchandise and untaxed cigarettes out of a retail outlet in the city.
Asad A. Abumuslem, 52, of the 9700 block of South Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Lawn, and 22-year-old Saad Abdulhadi, of the 14300 block of South Springfield Avenue in Midlothian were each charged with one felony count of continuing financial crime enterprise and one felony count of theft, according to a statement from Chicago Police.
After reports from residents that the store was buying and reselling stolen iPhones, police initiated Operation “Clean Break,” which was conducted over a 10-month span by Intelligence Section Officers of the Organized Crime Division and the Asset Forfeiture Unit, according to police.
The investigation — using undercover buyers, as well as video and electronic surveillance — confirmed the allegations from residents, and revealed that the business was selling untaxed stamped cigarettes and counterfeit merchandise, police said.
Police said they confiscated three vehicles, nearly $68,000 and a sizable quantity of untaxed cigarettes during the bust.
The two men are scheduled to appear in bond court on Friday.
