Judge: Ill. man charged in $7M shoplifting case remains jailed; no ruling on wife, daughter
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This December 2013 photo provided by the Palatine Police Department in Palatine, Ill., shows Branko Bogdanov, 58, of Northbrook, Ill. On Monday, March 10, 2014, a federal judge in Chicago is scheduled to decide whether Bogdanov, his 52-year-old wife Lela Bogdanov and their 34-year-old daughter, Julia Bogdanov, charged in an alleged $7 million shoplifting spree must stay behind bars. They were arrested last week at their luxury home in Northbrook. They are charged with one count each of interstate transportation of stolen property. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Palatine Police Department) (The Associated Press)
A federal judge in Chicago says the head of a suburban family accused of shoplifting $7 million in goods must remain behind bars after deeming him a flight risk.
The ruling came Monday at a detention hearing for a father, mother and daughter accused of going on regular excursions nationwide to steal.
Prosecutor Renato Mariotti says Branko Bogdanov claims he's $28,000 in debt. But Mariotti says Bogdanov actually owns a $1.3 million Northbrook home and 12 vehicles, including a 2003 Chevy Corvette.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mariotti also told the court the 58-year-old emigrated in 1973 from the former Yugoslavia and is in the U.S. illegally.
The judge didn't immediately rule on the detention of the mother and daughter. All three are charged with interstate transportation of stolen property. They haven't entered pleas.