Evanston Man Admits Guilt in Buying Stolen Merchandise

 Posted on February 23, 2013 in Theft

A rare coin dealer has pleaded guilty to buying purportedly stolen valuables from undercover police officers who posed as criminals, the Chicago Tribune reported. James Coello, 47, pleaded guilty to “continuing a financial crimes enterprise” on February 6. His sentence includes 36 months of probation, 100 hours of community service and some fees and fines.

Although Coello originally had pleaded not guilty, the coin dealer changed his mind and made a plea bargain with the prosecution. “I don’t really know the many machinations of how this works. All I know is I paid a lawyer and he pretty much took care of everything,” Coello said. It is always important to discuss the details of your case with a criminal defense lawyer no matter what the charges are.

Coello was arrested in September after the undercover operation in which police sold him purportedly stolen merchandise such as jewelry, coins and watches. Furthermore, investigators found stolen property, which was reported stolen in recent burglaries, from Coello’s store.

The investigation into Coello’s activities had begun six months before his arrest when police learned that stolen valuables were being purchased at Coello’s store. The undercover officials said to Coello that the items they were selling were stolen. Coello also did not record the sales nor asked for identification from sellers.

If you have been charged with a similar crime, you need to talk to a criminal defense lawyer at once. Make sure your defense is in capable hands. Contact a skilled criminal defense attorney in Cook County at your earliest convenience.