News Summary
Gary Bailey, a 24-year-old from Kansas City, has confessed in federal court to participating in a conspiracy that involved transporting stolen property across several Midwest states. The operation, which targeted 23 retail businesses including beauty and liquor stores, resulted in over $418,000 in losses. Bailey, alongside his co-conspirator, is now facing severe legal penalties. The case highlights ongoing retail theft issues in the Kansas City area, prompting law enforcement to intensify their efforts to combat these crimes.
Kansas City
Gary Bailey, a 24-year-old resident of Kansas City, has pleaded guilty in federal court to a conspiracy involving the transport and possession of stolen property. This guilty plea is part of a broader investigation into a multistate retail theft conspiracy that affected numerous businesses across the Midwest.
According to court records, Bailey was involved in a theft operation that spanned from March 2023 to January 2024. He and his co-conspirators targeted at least 23 retail establishments, primarily focusing on beauty and liquor stores in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The thefts have been linked to a total financial loss exceeding $418,000 for the affected businesses.
Bailey’s role in the conspiracy involved burglarizing these businesses and then transporting the stolen merchandise back to Kansas City. The stolen goods were sold, given away to friends and family, or kept for personal use. Bailey’s co-conspirator, Donald Bennett, also faced related charges and pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.
As part of his plea agreement, Bailey will be mandated to pay restitution, which will be defined at a later hearing. He now faces a significant legal consequence, with the potential for a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. The exact sentence will be determined after a presentencing investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
Related Retail Theft Cases
In a separate but related case, Kristian I. Tchervenakov, a 32-year-old from Lee’s Summit, has been charged in connection with at least 22 retail theft incidents in Kansas City. The total value of the stolen merchandise exceeds $15,200.
Tchervenakov faces 15 counts of felony stealing, with the incidents traced back to December 21, 2023. Law enforcement officials have labeled him as a prolific shoplifting offender, having been monitored for nearly a year. Detectives have indicated that Tchervenakov is known to be a user of fentanyl and has a distinctive facial profile, commonly seen with a small cross-body bag with a red buckle.
Investigations reveal that Tchervenakov employed a magnetic device to bypass store security systems during parts of his thefts. Between December 21, 2023, and July 22, 2024, he was implicated in incidents totaling $15,230. Notably, two significant thefts involved high-value items like Dyson and Roomba vacuums from Target stores.
Target’s security has identified Tchervenakov as one of their top offenders in the Kansas City market, claiming he has stolen approximately $70,000 worth of merchandise from their locations. His criminal history includes multiple convictions for theft-related offenses across Johnson County, Kansas, with a string of charges dating back to 2022.
A warrant for Tchervenakov’s arrest was issued on November 8, and, as of the latest updates, he remains in custody with no bond available.
Conclusions
The ongoing investigations into these retail theft conspiracies highlight a troubling trend within the Kansas City area. Law enforcement authorities are working diligently to address these significant issues as they seek justice for the affected businesses and communities.
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