Guilty Plea For $100K Theft Scheme Targeting Rochester Business

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - One of the two men charged in a theft scheme that resulted in more than $100,000 in losses for a Rochester business has pleaded guilty.

The criminal complaints filed against 27-year-old Tavontae Timmy Kidd-Starks and 29-year-old Ajuda Mastar Nywesh allege both Rochester men operated the scheme from November 2022 through January 2023, when Rochester police responded to an undisclosed business in southwest Rochester to investigate a report of employees assisting with thefts.

The charges state that investigators were told the two men would open new phone lines for a group of individuals who had phone numbers and passcodes for existing accounts. It was alleged that members of the group would then come to the store and pay the sales tax on the transaction before leaving with new devices without paying for them.

One of the store's managers told police that Kidd-Starks and Nywesh gave out more than 100 phones, tablets, and watches. In exchange for opening the lines, it’s alleged the two men benefited by receiving increased commission payments on the bogus sales.

The court documents say Kidd-Starks was accused of being responsible for nearly $37,000 in losses for the business, and Nywesh allegedly gave out more than $64,000 worth of free merchandise and services. The charges do not include information about how many individuals received free devices or how they obtained the account information of existing customers.

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Kidd-Starks and Nywesh were both charged with theft by swindle and felony theft. Kidd-Starks has now entered into a plea agreement and admitted to an amended charge of theft involving the diversion of corporate property.

He is scheduled to be sentenced in October. The plea deal includes a recommended sentence of probation with no additional jail time and restitution in the amount of $36,849.55.

The case against Nywesh is still pending.