Police Bust Fencing Ring at Village Convenience Store

A monthslong undercover investigation by Tinley Park Police and other law agencies broke up a fencing operation at a village convenience store Wednesday, arresting a store manager on theft charges, according to a police release.

Kamal M. Mashni, 55, of the 7700 block of West 162nd Place, was charged with four counts of felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft for allegedly buying stolen cigarettes, alcohol, baby formula, over-the-counter drugs and designer purses, the release stated. Mashni's bond is still pending, the release added.

READ: Tinley Closes 'Always Open' Store for Booze Sales

Mashni worked as a store manager at Tinley Family Food and Liquor, 6800 W. 183rd St. The store, which has also gone under the names Always Open and Tinley 24/Seven, was cited for multiple health code violations by the Tinley Park Health and Consumer Protection Office, the release stated.

"A fencing operation is a public safety and health issue," said Tinley Park Police Chief Steve Neubauer in the release. "Products of dubious origin are a danger to the community and unfair to legitimate businesses."

The police, which began its investigation in November of last year, also worked with the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Cook County State's Attorney Office, the Cook County Regional Organized Crime Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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The convenience store has a troubled history, and Mayor Ed Zabrocki has been very critical of its practices. In 2011, the store was temporarily closed after violating a suspended liquor license order by the village, an order it received after being cited for selling to a minor. The store was cited again for selling alcohol to underage customers in June of 2012.

The store also was the site of a drive-by shooting late last year. No one was injured, and the business was not connected in the shooting.

Police report information is provided by the Tinley Park Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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