Local Couple Sentenced For Selling Stolen Merchandise

St. Louis, MO – CHRISTIAN OUNANIAN and GINA VOGEL were sentenced to 63 and 42 months in prison, respectively on charges of selling merchandise stolen from Walgreens and CVS drug stores.  In addition to the prison sentences, they were ordered to pay restitution of $1,008,890.

According to court documents, Ounanian owned Xtra Wholesale, located on Southwest Avenue, St. Louis City. Between 2007 and September 2012, Ounanian and Vogel hired people to steal over-the-counter drugs and other items from Walgreens and CVS stores.  The shoplifters were paid for the items and Ounanian and Vogel conspired to resell the items.

Christian Ounanian and Gina Vogel, St. Louis City, pled guilty in December to one felony count of conspiracy to transmit stolen goods and one felony count of interstate transportation of stolen goods.  Christian Ounanian appeared today before United States District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.   Gina Vogel was sentenced in March.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Franks handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.