Queens man sentenced for defrauding multiple T.J. Maxx, Marshalls stores in WNY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Queens man was sentenced Thursday to nine months in prison after defrauding TJX stores in 30 different states, including four locations in Western New York, according to the Acting District Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

Chester Culler, 48, defrauded T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and other stores of $416,417.88 over nearly four years. More than 800 crimes occurred, including in Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park and Cheektowaga.

Culler would typically steal items from the stores and return them for a gift card between July 2020 and February 2024. He would then use the gift card and cash to purchase an item and change the receipt to appear as though he paid fully in cash. He would make another return and get a cash refund.

He was arrested in Connecticut on Feb. 7, 2024. He was charged by a federal criminal complaint in Western New York and the federal case was transferred to Connecticut.

He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in April 2024. Culler is currently in home incarceration. Along with the nine months in prison, he will receive three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay full restitution.

Culler is banned from all TJX stores with a criminal history of over 20 convictions.

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Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.

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