South Street Pawnshop Owner Pleads Guilty in Massive Stolen Goods Scheme
We’re talking more than $20 million massive.
Society Hill Loan operator Nat Leonard, who just pleaded guilty for his role in a massive stolen goods scheme that operated out of his South Street pawn shop (photo via Instagram/Society Hill Loan)
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Nat Leonard, Longtime Operator of South Street Pawnshop Society Hill Loan, Pleads Guilty in Massive Stolen Goods Scheme
It’s been just over eight months since the feds indicted Nat Leonard, the longtime operator of the well-known South Street pawnshop Society Hill Loan, accusing him of selling close to $23 million in stolen goods through an operation based at that store. And on Wednesday, Leonard pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme.
Prosecutors said that Leonard routinely bought stolen goods from thieves who targeted local big-box stores like Target, CVS, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart, paying the thieves cash for all sorts of tools, electronics, and other higher-ticket items. He was also accused of working with another theft ring that brought in goods from across the country. Leonard would then turn around and sell the stolen goods, primarily on the Society Hill Loan eBay page, making a handsome profit. He sold some $19 million in stolen goods in that way and another $4 million to a distributor outside of Pennsylvania.
Society Hill Loan was well known to both local and touring musicians, because the shop always kept a good selection of vintage guitars and other instruments in stock, prominently displaying them in the window. If you’ve ever walked down the 600 block of South Street, you couldn’t miss the bright storefront:
Longtime South Street pawnshop Society Hill Loan (photo via Google Maps)
Leonard faces sentencing later this year and could get up to 15 years in federal prison.
Meanwhile, his cousin, Larry Leonard, who ran two other pawn shops allegedly involved in the scheme, is also charged in the case. Larry Leonard is awaiting trial.
Bad Behavior
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By the Numbers
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Local Talent
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